By COLlive reporter
Photos by Sholem Srugo
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez held a forum in Crown Heights to discuss the disturbing increase in the number of anti-Semitic hate crimes in New York City, and in particular in Brooklyn.
The meeting is one of a series being organized in communities throughout the borough to discuss rising incidents of anti-Semitism, during which members of the Jewish community have been harassed and assaulted and Jewish institutions vandalized.
Members of the community and law enforcement gathered at the Jewish Children’s Museum on Wednesday for the event with Gonzalez and Hate Crimes Bureau and Deputy Inspector Mark Molinari, Commanding Officer of the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force.
“As District Attorney, I am committed to keeping the people of Brooklyn safe, and bringing the perpetrators of hate crimes to justice,” Gonzalez said.
Activist Devorah Halberstam, co-founder of the Jewish Children’s Museum, was the host and moderator for the evening. Halberstam spoke about the importance of the community asking questions and demanding answers from our law enforcement agencies, and made sure each participant had a chance to be heard.
Michael Miller of the JCRC, was invited to give remarks.
Halberstam received an award from the DA, in appreciation for pushing to arrange the event and for advocating for the safety of the community.
In their joint remarks, DA Gonzalez and Deputy Inspector Molinari spoke about the Hate Crimes Bureau’s work combatting these heinous crimes.
The DA stated that hate crimes are taken very seriously and are of the utmost importance to the DA and NYPD since in the case of a hate crime, it is not just one victim, but an entire community that is victimized.
The DA explained that a crime being designated as a hate crime pushes up the seriousness of the crime and can lead to a more severe punishment for the perpetrator. He also explained that it is very difficult to prove, since it is necessary to prove not just that an act of violence was done, but that it was done to a specific person because of their identity.
Deputy Inspector Molinari spoke about how seriously the NYPD takes hate crime incidents, and urged residents to report anything that might possibly be a hate crime, since it must be reported to his office for review and investigated seriously.
This was followed by a question and answer session, with community residents asking questions and expressing concerns about recent hate crimes and the follow up by the NYPD.
While residents expressed appreciation for the hard work of the NYPD, some expressed concern about police response time, visibility, and follow up.
Questions ranged from educating residents on peaceful co-existence between different communities, to questions about follow up from the NYPD after violent incidents, with some resident expressing concern that incidents that had happened to them were not taken seriously enough or they did not receive any follow up from the police afterwards.
Inspector Francis Giordano of the local NYPD 71st Precinct promised to follow up and address the concerns. He noted that since the beginning of this year, 24 extra officers had been assigned to the precinct to address this issue.
The DA also praised the leadership of Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (CHJCC) directed by Eli Cohen and Chanina Sperlin for advocating for the community and bringing attention to this issue.
Although the turnout from the neighborhood was low, those of us who spoke expressed the gamut of concerns we are facing. I believe we were heard but it is our responsibility to be vigilant, report and follow up when anti-Semitic crimes are committed. And, even more so speak out, write letters and join efforts to ensure that those demagogues who promulgate anti-Semitism are not allowed to get away with it. Specifically, Sharpton, Ilhan Omar, Linda Sarsour and those public officials who support them or are unwilling to repudiate them must hear from us that we will not tolerate their rhetoric… Read more »
Do you know why people are so apathetic and don’t show up?
Because we are told things like “Report all incidents,” but when you call the police you wait an hour for an officer to show up and then the officer tries to talk you of filing a report because nothing much will happen.
Josh
Mrs. Devorah Scheiner and her Yomtov Fund that feeds hundreds and hundreds of Jewish families here in our community gave out her tri- annual cases of poultry, fish, dairy and potato sacks today. Prior to this, a light breakfast of bagels and pastry were served while waiting in line. As the last groups were leaving, a big burly black man came from next door, and yelled a horrific slur of curse to the Jews and pushed Mrs. Scheiner hard. Police cars came, but nothing was done. They wrote down her number and address but alas that won’t stop the ugliness.… Read more »
24 more officers it’s nice to have more people that can protect but it is not stopping the criminals from HAte …. criminals can stop only if they have 100% Fear from the punishments!
And this is the job of DA office to give maximum punishment and not to release criminals to the streets so they can repeat the same crime …..
Soo sad there were only about 5 Chabad ppl at this event!! Does the ppl of Crown heights have no care for their community…
THIS IS THE D.A. THAT WANTS TO PASS LAWS THAT WILL ALLOW ALL PERPETRATORS OF MINOR CRIMES TO BE LET OFF SCOTT FREE. ENOUGH WITH ALL THESE PHOTO-OPS OF OUR “LEADERS” ( SIC) AND DO SOMETHING CONCRETE. WE NEED STRICTER LAWS AND NOT REVOLVING DOOR JUSTICE.
Talk, talk, talk!!!!
It’s not the climate to protect Jews!
Only G-D watches over us!!!!!
May G-D continue to protect the Jewish people!!