The past couple of weeks have been troubling for all New Yorkers. Four hate crimes committed against people of different racial and religious groups from four different communities brought pain and anguish to the residents of
In the past few days, I proudly stood with political and community leaders of all races and religions to denounce these recent hate crimes, calling for peace in our communities. I stood with members of the Anti-Defamation League, Agudath Israel and with prominent Afro-American, Caribbean and Muslim civil rights leaders—all united by one clear message: That hate against one New Yorker from any background is a hate crime against every New Yorker.
I believe that to be successful in fighting hate crimes of today, we must examine how leaders of our city had worked to reduce hate crimes in the past. During the unrest in Crown Heights in the 1980’s, the late Congressman Major Owens created an ongoing dialogue of all the groups living in Crown Heights known as the Crown Heights Coalition. The coalition addressed issues of hate crimes by finding ways to unite different groups living in the community. In 1998, Congressman Owens helped to create the Crown Heights Mediation Center to continue the work of the Crown Heights Coalition. Today, the Mediation Center’s focus is on much-needed criminal justice reforms.
Congressman Owens’ efforts aimed at the improvement of the relations between African Americans and Jews living in Crown Heights, almost immediately following the rioting. We must follow the example of Congressman Owens and form a City-Wide Coalition Mediation Center to battle the rise of hate crimes in 2018. A new coalition must create educational and inter-group programs to enlighten the young, old and all residents that New Yorkers, despite their different backgrounds and beliefs, are all members of one NYC family.
In 2012 I founded The Bridge Multi-Cultural and Advocacy Center, known as the Bridge. The mission of the Bridge is to bring all racial, religious and sexual orientation groups that make up our great city together. The Bridge’s objective is to show that We have much more in common than what divides us. The Bridge advocates events and programs to bring New Yorkers from different groups and backgrounds together.
In the past years the Bridge held numerous events that highlighted the beautiful history of different cultures, Jewish, Caribbean, Muslim. The Bridge invites members from every community to each of its cultural events. The Bridge’s Unity in Action Team is made up of community leaders from many backgrounds who march and fight back against hate all over Brooklyn. The Bridge is also fighting for more affordable housing, to lessen the increasing tensions caused by gentrification.
If we are to remain a great nation, each generation of Americans must improve the work of the past. It is the duty of our generation to reduce the hate and bring Americans from different groups and backgrounds together. I formed the Bridge to help accomplish this mission. We can only fix today’s problems of hate, lack of quality education, poverty, homelessness and lack of affordable housing by working together.
If all of us, from different religious, racial, ethnic and sexual orientation groups work together, we can make America a better county for all. Communication, understanding and respect between people from different backgrounds is what the heart and soul of America is all about.
