In the wake of the ongoing anti-Semitic attacks perpetrated against Orthodox/Hassidic Jews, Brooklyn’s four Orthodox/Hassidic elected officials yesterday wrote Gov. Andrew Cuomo asking him to declare a state of emergency against what they characterized as a “slow-growing pogrom.”
State Senator Simcha Felder (D-Midwood, Flatbush, Borough Park, Kensington, Sunset Park, Madison, Bensonhurst), Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein (D-Borough Park, Midwood0 and City Councilmembers Chaim Deutsch (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Homecrest, Midwood) and Kalman Yeger (Bensonhurst, Borough Park, Gravesend, Kensington) among other things, called on Cuomo to deploy both state police and the national guard to visibly patrol and protect Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods throughout the state.
The lawmakers also called for Cuomo to appoint a special prosecutor for purposes of investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of antisemitic violence, and that the special prosecutor immediately assume control of cases already under the jurisdiction of local district attorneys.
“As you know, antisemitic hate crimes have grown to frighteningly high numbers over the past several months. During the past several days in particular, identifiably Orthodox Jews in and around areas we represent have been targeted with a rash of violence unseen in modern history. Orthodox Jews are being regularly assaulted, menaced, stabbed and murdered in increasing numbers. This has been appropriately described as a “slow-rolling pogrom,” the lawmakers wrote to the governor.
“Simply stated, it is no longer safe to be identifiably Orthodox in the State of New York. We cannot shop, walk down a street, send our children to school, or even worship in peace. We implore you to take the immediate action as you are empowered to do, and send a clear message that the State of New York will protect its people,” the letter added.
The letter was written in the wake of the latest attack, in which police allege that 37-year- old Grafton E. Thomas entered the home of an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi in Rockland County and stabbed five people celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, leaving one person in critical condition.
The attack comes after multiple assaults of Orthodox/Hassidic Jews in Brooklyn last week and the gunfire attack at a Jersey City Kosher Supermarket two weeks ago that left five dead, including the two alleged shooters.
In the wake of the Rockland County attack U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) met with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials and asked the agency to investigate any possible links—direct or indirect—between this attack and the ones of the past several days. “I’ve also asked for an assessment of what is currently being done by federal law enforcement officials to prevent these attacks and what more can be done,” said Schumer.
Cuomo has responded by directing the state police to increase patrols in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods across the state.
“Hostility based on religion, race, creed, immigration status is an American cancer that is spreading throughout the body politic. In New York, we will never tolerate such hate and hostility in any form, and we will put an end to this cancer not just through our words, but through our actions,” said Cuomo.
Mayor de Blasio responded yesterday in announcing the creation of a new multi-ethnic interfaith Neighborhood Safety Coalitions and increased New York City Police Department presence.
The Coalitions will have a physical presence in the community with neighborhood safety walks and corner watches and will also offer ongoing programming designed to promote tolerance and break down stereotypes, he said.
