A request for further hate crime prevention. The issue was introduced by Councilman Chaim Deutsch.
The topic was also addressed by Mark Levine, Brad Lander, Councilman Dr. Mathieu Eugene, Robert Cornegy, Leaders of APO and JCRC and the Jewish
Council. Councilman Rafael Espinal also participated along with Councilman Alan Maisel, the head of Crime Task Force, representative of Attorney
General Letitia James, Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams, Congresswoman
Yvette D. Clarke, Councilman Steve Levin, and representatives of the Jewish Community
Coalition and a large number of Jewish community activists and community leaders.
Brooklyn, NY – Corey Johnson condemned those who have been
using the measles outbreak for the basis of anti-Semitic attacks. These attacks
have stemmed from the misinformation that has been spreading among many
communities in an effort to smear the Chassidic public.
Rabbi David Niederman, UJO Executive Director and President, says,
“Ninety-six percent of the community is vaccinated. The newspapers are
responsible as well for defaming the image of the Hareidi community.”
Speaker Corey Johnson held the press conference on Monday
morning, May 20. The press conference was arranged by UJO and held at its
office to condemn the anti-Semitic attacks in the neighborhood. At the press
conference, a significant number of city council members participated, and all declared
that they stand with the Chassidic community against hate crimes.
The press conference had strong coverage throughout many
stations in New York which it is hoped will help assure that these attacks on
the Chassidic community come to an end as the safety of the neighborhood needs
to be taken very seriously. At the same time, the clear message and strong support
of all of those in attendance delivered a resounding message against the unfounded
attacks on the community and undermined the false claims that Chassidim do not vaccinate.
The message brought out was clearly to the contrary as it highlighted the fact that
the vast majority of the Chassidic community does vaccinate.
