NEW YORK, NY -- Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), New York State Senator Brad Hoylman, and other state and city elected officials together with local faith leaders condemned the recent spike of hate violence in New York City. The acts of bigotry and intolerance occurring throughout the country follow an election marked by unprecedented divisive rhetoric, which has fueled hateful actions like those seen recently in New York City. The elected officials and faith leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities gathered today in Washington Square Park to support the West Village community following several hateful incidents that have taken place over the past week, including anti-Semitic graffiti found at the New School and a residential apartment building, as well as threatening graffiti on Muslim prayer rooms at NYU. At a press conference denouncing these actions, the elected officials and faith leaders challenged such bigotry and pledged their united opposition to any act of violence against individuals because of their faith, gender, sexual orientation, or political views.

 “We find ourselves at a deeply challenging and demoralizing moment for our great city and country,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “The recent spate of local acts of hate and bigotry ought to alarm our New York City community. We must come together to defend the foundational principles of justice and tolerance that ground our democracy, and commit ourselves to supporting fellow Americans under attack because of their faith, race, gender, nationality or sexual identities. The horrible rhetoric that emerged during the election campaign has in no small way contributed to the upswing in hate crimes that we have witnessed – and we must do all in our power to stand united in opposing such divisive forces. This includes speaking out when hate crimes happen in our neighborhoods, or when figures like Steve Bannon are appointed to positions of power and influence in the White House. We must, now more than ever, refuse to surrender our values nor abandon the project of making this country a more just and fair place for all Americans.”

“We have many questions about where President-elect Trump may take America—and together, we must stand up for what we believe in. But there’s no question that hate speech, offensive symbols, and discrimination have no place in our city. We stand for modern values—not an agenda rooted in the 1950’s. We must be united, and we must continue speaking out against this kind of behavior. As the First Lady said, when they go low, we go high. And for the next four years, it looks like we’re going to have to go higher than ever before as we continue to keep New York the cultural capital of the world,” said New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer

“Since last Tuesday's election, more than 400 incidents of hateful harassment and intimidation have occurred according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, including some in our own Greenwich Village neighborhood. In response, President-elect Trump must denounce and disavow the purveyors of hate speech and rescind the White House appointment of Steven Bannon, a known white nationalist. I'm proud to stand in solidarity with government colleagues and faith leaders from our community and thank them for their support and guidance in these challenging times,” said New York State Senator Brad Hoylman.

“Our country was founded on a commitment to inclusion and justice. Acts of bigotry, racism, anti-Semitism, misogyny and other forms of hate will not be tolerated and we will not stand by silently as these acts are perpetrated. We will continue to remind the newly-elected Administration, and our fellow citizens that there is no place for acts of hate and violence in our country,” said New York Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick.

“Now more than ever, our community must unite to defend our values and to denounce the hate that has been emboldened and given new focus after the recent election,” said Council Member Margaret S. Chin. “It is no coincidence that a rise in anti-Semitic and other hateful actions has taken place alongside the elevation of a racist demagogue like Steve Bannon to a top job in the White House. Considering the challenges we face under the next Administration, it is important that we show the entire nation that this community will never give an inch in the fight against bigotry and hate. I thank Congressman Nadler, Senator Hoylman and Congregation Beit Simchat Torah for bringing us together today.

“Now more than ever, New Yorkers need to reject hate and rally around the values that define our City: tolerance, acceptance and diversity,” said Council Member Corey Johnson. “New York City is and must always be a place for all people of all backgrounds. This divisive election and its outcome may have emboldened people to commit acts of hate, but that only strengthens the resolve of people of good will. In the face of intolerance, we will always be united, and we will always win. I am grateful to Congress Member Nadler and the leaders and community members who have joined in the fight to assert decency and respect.”

“The acts we have experienced in recent days --anti-Muslim; anti-Semitic; and racist -- share something besides their loathsomeness and divisiveness. They share a cowardly anonymity. That’s why today’s gathering is so important: the antidote is for people to stand together in the full light of day and publicly reject the hatred and intimidation. I am proud to be part of that, and I thank Congressman Nadler and the other elected officials for bringing us together to let our students know we support them and are committed to their safety, and our values –diversity, inclusiveness, courage, justice – will prevail,” said New York University President Andrew Hamilton.

“Now more than ever it is important that we all come together.  Since the election there have been more than 500 reported incidents of intimidation and hate in our country. My hurting is not only for every act of hate against Muslims, but also every cowardly act of anti-semitism, anti-LGBTQ, anti-black, anti-immigrant, anti-woman hate that this last week has shown. Organized evil will always triumph over disorganized righteous. Our strength lies in embracing our diversity and coming behind only those leaders who support it,” said Imam Khalid Latif, University Chaplain, Global Spiritual Life at NYU, Executive Director, Islamic Center at NYU.

“The presidential race has marked a new era in our country with racism and bigotry. However, as Americans we will not allow this racism and bigotry to go unchecked and unchallenged.  United across race, religion, culture and sexual orientation, we will stand tall and have one another's backs.  Muslim, Jew, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and atheist will be each others' keeper to maintain what this great country stands for,” said Dr. Debbie Almontaser, President, Muslim Community Network.

"As a Rabbi, as a Jew, as a member of the LGBT community, as a human being, I am outraged at the signs of hatred against Jews and Muslims that have already increased since the election.  We will stand together — and create powerful spiritual communities of resistance and love.  We will stand against anyone and anything that threatens the well-being of immigrants and others who are targets of the hate mongering of this elected – but not by the popular vote – Trump administration, "said Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah.

“I’m both proud and humbled to stand united alongside many diverse faith leaders against all forms of hate in our society,” said Rev. Bertram Johnson, Minister of Justice, Advocacy, and Change at The Riverside Church.  “Riverside condemns all hatred and violence based on religion, race, gender, sexuality, or any other difference that would purport to make someone less than someone else.  Through the radical love of Jesus Christ, and working together with my brothers and sisters of different faiths, together we can build a world where all are free and all are loved.”

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