Letter: Murphy's Response To Hate Posters A Cynical Try For Votes

To the Editor,

We Crotonites can be a contentious lot when it comes to village affairs. But if an outsider barges into our community and attempts to destroy its cohesion, we coalesce and speak with one voice. Vociferously.

So it was with the flyers posted recently by Identity Evropa, an organization, which, despite its protests of innocence, has been branded a white-supremacist group by the Anti-Defamation League and a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. A mob we just don’t want in our neighborhood.

The response was swift with village officials, our police force, our schools, and masses of our citizens speaking out against the hatred perpetrated by this cowardly crew. Fliers promoting love and tolerance rapidly appeared throughout the village. And we were buoyed by the support of the Westchester County Human Rights Commission who issued a strong statement against these reprehensible activities. This is Croton at our best.

But it offends me when our so-called representatives try to exploit these situations for their personal political advantage. I refer to the letter circulated by State Senator Terrence Murphy to his constituents in Croton.

Had Mr. Murphy previously established himself as a champion of tolerance and human rights, we would have welcomed his kind words and the encouragement he extended to us. But those sentiments ring hollow in light of Mr. Murphy’s long record that speaks a totally different language. They can only have been generated in an attempt to garner votes in our village.

Mr. Murphy appears smiling in photographs with President Trump, a man not exactly revered for his strong support of tolerance and human rights. But has he uttered one word in protest of any of the myriad hateful statements and actions by this President?

Indeed, he has not.

When neo-Nazis paraded through the streets of Charlottesville, VA, leaving riot and death in their wake, they were condemned by politicians of every stripe. But Mr. Murphyremained conspicuously silent.

When small children were ripped from their parents’ arms at our southern border and unceremoniously dispatched here to Westchester, did Mr. Murphy join the vast chorus of officials protesting these inhuman acts? He most certainly did not.

One of the most fundamental human rights in our country is the right to vote. But did Mr. Murphy support the package of legislation, passed by the Assembly, to make voting easier and to foster greater participation? Never. He turned his back on these as well.

In contrast, he introduced legislation requiring photo IDs at the polls, ostensibly to prevent the frauds which almost never occur, but whose real intent was to depress the turnout of minorities, poor people, and young voters, who he must, rightfully, feel are not among his strongest supporters.

One can only conclude that Mr. Murphy, faced with an extraordinary challenge for his seat in November, instructed one of his staff members to prepare that letter full of love, tolerance, and praise for the citizens of our village in nothing less than a cynical attempt to swing voters into his camp.

If Mr. Murphy really cared about the people of Croton, he would venture down here during this long legislative recess and actually meet with his constituents to discuss his record and his plans for the future, and to answer their questions. But that has never occurred here or anywhere else in his district in living memory.

So, Mr. Murphy, spare us your words of praise. We know you’re not sincere. We see you for what you truly are. We in Croton are doing just fine without you.

Sincerely,

Joel E. Gingold