Politicians To Hold Public Forum On Hate Crimes

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Upper Manhattan politicians will hold a public forum Thursday to discuss a rise in the occurrence of hate crimes since President Donald Trump's election. The forum is being organized by Helen Rosenthal, Mark Levine and Bill Perkins of the City Council and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance is scheduled to speak, according to a press release.

The forum will be held at West Side High School, located at 140 W. 102nd St. between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues, at 6:30 p.m., according to a press release. Spanish language translation will be offered at the forum.

"We will address local incidents and concerns, discuss the legal definition of a hate crime, learn how to report a crime as a victim or witness, and review services and resources that are available to our communities," a press release from Rosenthal's office read.

The Upper West Side was recently hit by a hate crime when swastikas were carved into the wooden doors of the Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York. The Fourth Universalist Society — a Universal Unitarian church on Central Park West and West 75th Street — describes itself as a "beacon of liberal religion."

In November, District Attorney Vance and the fourth other DAs representing New York City boroughs penned a letter denouncing the rise of hate crimes.

"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," read the letter.

Photo of Fourth Universalist Society by Google Maps street view