In Wake Of Monsey Attack, U.S. Senators Offer Support

MONSEY, NY — Both of New York's senators are moving quickly in response to the terroristic attack on the Rockland Hasidic community Saturday night. The stabbings occurred a month after a man was stabbed while walking to a Monsey synagogue.

Saturday, the attacker invaded a Hanukkah celebration. About 100 people were at the home of Rabbi Chaim Leib Rottenberg when a man entered and stabbed four people. A member of the crowd got the license plate number of the van he drove away. A fifth person was injured in the melee.

The van was tracked to New York City by police within a couple of hours. Its driver was covered in blood. The alleged attacker, Grafton Thomas of neighboring Orange County, was charged with attempted murder, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, and was sent to Rockland County Jail. The judge set bail at $5 million.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will host a roundtable discussion at Ramapo Town Hall Monday morning to hear directly from religious leaders, elected officials, and advocates on the two attacks, and to discuss ways to stop anti-Semitism and protect the Jewish community.

Monday afternoon, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer will outline his plan to recalibrate the federal government’s strategy against rising hate and anti-Semitic, extremist attacks. Schumer will say that in recent years the feds have—in many ways—tied their own hands when it comes to dealing with violent extremism in a proactive way and are now faced with the difficult task of catching up.

A day after urging the Federal Bureau of Investigation to join the investigation, Schumer is expected to propose a two-pronged plan to restore federal support for programs that work proactively to stop hate, and have a proven, widely supported, track record for combating extremism; and, second, deliver an additional surge of not-for-profit security grants funds to protect synagogues, churches, schools, mosques and other places of worship.

Schumer is scheduled to be joined by various faith leaders and community advocates at his New York City office as he makes his announcement.