'Crimes of Bias are Intolerable': NYC District Attorneys Denounce Rise in Hate Crimes

NEW YORK CITY — District Attorneys representing New York City's five boroughs released a joint statement Tuesday to condemn a national rise in hate crimes and swear to "prosecute vigorously crimes that are motivated by bias and hate."

New York's top prosecutors — Richard Brown of Queens, Cyrus Vance of Manhattan, Darcel Clark of the Bronx, Michael McMahon of Staten Island and acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez of Brooklyn — also denounced a rise in hate crimes reported in the city since Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election.

"Within the past week, our offices have become aware of multiple incidents where New Yorkers received threatening messages related to their race or religion, and we are carefully monitoring these reports," read the letter.

Racism, misogyny and xenophobia have reared their heads in the city since Trump's unexpected victory. In the past week a Trump supporter punched a woman in the face after a political argument, a swastika was painted in a Jewish section of Crown Heights and a man wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat was throttled in the Bronx.

But the rise in intolerance and hate crimes is not limited to New York and has not just occurred within the past week. It's been building throughout the country for at least a year.

An FBI report released Monday stated that between 2014 and 2015 the recorded number of hate crimes rose 6.8 percent in the United States. Of the 7,121 victims of hate crimes in 2015, 59.2 percent were targeted by race, 19.7 percent were targeted by religion, 17.7 percent were targeted by sexual orientation, 1.7 percent were targeted by gender identity, 1.2 percent were targeted by disability and 0.4 percent were targeted by gender, according to FBI data.

Here is the full statement from the five New York City District Attorneys:

As the District Attorneys who serve all of the residents of New York City, we want to reaffirm our commitment to prosecute vigorously crimes that are motivated by bias and hate.
We have never and will never tolerate such acts – particularly those involving violence, intimidation, and destruction of property. As demonstrated by yesterday’s FBI report on national hate crime statistics, these crimes are becoming more commonplace. Within the past week, our offices have become aware of multiple incidents where New Yorkers received threatening messages related to their race or religion, and we are carefully monitoring these reports.
Crimes of bias are intolerable, and tear at the very fabric of our society. Crimes committed against individuals because of their race, national origin, gender, religion, disability, or sexual orientation do not just inflict physical and emotional damage, but threaten the safety and wellbeing of all New Yorkers.
The U.S. Constitution equally protects the rights of all Americans, and we are dedicated to enforcing the laws that uphold those rights. New York State law enables the criminal prosecution of those who commit crimes against anyone in New York, whether or not that person is a U.S. citizen.
We urge anyone in the five boroughs who may have been a victim of a hate crime to contact our offices, regardless of immigration status. In the case of an emergency, call 911 for immediate assistance. We are here to protect you, and we have the resources to do so.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also responded to the rise in hate crimes Tuesday by setting up a hotline to report crimes of bias and discrimination. Cuomo also announced Tuesday that he will launch multi-agency investigations into reported hate crimes and instruct the state Education Department to train teachers hoe to protect New York's children from the growing wave of intolerance.

“New York serves as a beacon of hope and opportunity for all, and we will continue to stand up to those who seek to spread the politics of division, fear and hate,” Cuomo said in a statement.

To report hate crimes to the state hotline, call 1-888-392-3644.

Photo: Courtesy of Mordechai Lightstone