Faith Leaders, Residents Stand Strong Against Hate Crimes

EAST HAMPTON, NY — A faith leader took the lead in speaking out against hate crimes recently.

The East Hampton Anti-Bias Task Force hosted an event, “A Special Conversation with Rabbi Steven Moss” recently at Town Hall.

Rabbi Moss, Chair of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission and Chair of the Suffolk County Inter-Faith Anti-Bias Task Force spoke about bias issues and hate crimes across Suffolk County.

"He focused on problems and, more importantly, solutions when confronting bias issues," the ABTF said.

A question and answer segment followed the Rabbi’s remarks.

The event drew a crowd, as members of the community came out, including local faith leaders such as The Very Reverend Denis Brunelle of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Cantor Debra Stein and Rabbi Joshua Franklin of the Jewish Center of the Hamptons, Reverend Walter Thompson of Calvary Baptist Church, and Reverend Bill Hoffman from the Montauk Community Church.

East Hampton Town Police Chief Mike Sarlo and acting East Hampton Village Police Chief Mike Tracey were also in attendance, as were Detective Lieutenant Robert Donohue, commanding officer of the hate crimes unit of Suffolk County, and Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming.

Hate crimes are a growing concern on the East End: This week, Southampton Town Police said they were investigating an alleged hate crime and assault that took place on Atlantic Avenue in Hampton Bays on Sunday, authorities said.

A Hampton Bays man said that he was walking on Atlantic Avenue in Hampton Bays when approximately four white males believed to be in their 20s jumped out of a vehicle and began striking and kicking him in the face, police said.

The victim said the men "were directing anti-Hispanic comments to him before and during the attack," police said.

His assailants fled the scene in the same vehicle, police said.

The victim was treated for his injuries at a local hospital and released, police said.

The Southampton Town Police are coordinating their investigation with the Suffolk County Police Hate Crimes Unit and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is requested to contact Southampton Town Police Detectives at (631) 702-2230 or Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800 222-tips. All calls will be keep confidential

A Latino advocacy group has rallied to denounce the alleged hate crime.

Organizacion Latino-Americana of Eastern Long Island, or OLA, "expresses condemnation of these hateful and ethnically charged acts against a Latino member of our Hampton Bays community. We remain concerned for the continued safety of the family who has been targeted by these violent individuals," a statement from OLA read.

OLA was contacted Monday morning by a member of the victim’s family, according to Minerva Perez, executive director of OLA.

After learning the details of the attack, OLA contacted Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman and Southampton Town Police Chief Steven Skrynecki to ask for a response and urge a commitment to safety for all members of the community.

Schneiderman took a meeting with OLA within minutes of being contacted, while Skrynecki was also "quick to explain" that the case was already being investigated as a hate crime, Perez said.

"While OLA is horrified that a crime of this nature would happen, we are not surprised that such acts of violence could occur as immigrants have been further vilified and scapegoated by those with an interest in creating fear and division. Our community must not cave to further violence," Perez said.

She added that OLA was "heartened" by the Southampton Town’s Police Department's response, acting "quickly and without reservation" in the hate crime investigation.

OLA stresses the importance of continued dialogue and transparency regarding the fears that immigrants in the community have about accessing protection, regardless of immigration status, Perez said.

"Active efforts such as these, along with follow up discussions and commitments, are needed to ensure that all among us are safe and equally inclined to seek protections as victims and witnesses to crime," Perez said.