NY Leaders Combat Hate Crimes

NEW YORK – In response to recent bullying and hate crimes in New York City, Speaker Christine C. Quinn joined members of Clergy, advocates and City leaders announce a series of events to combat hate crimes. At the ‘Communities of Faith Against Hate’ breakfast this morning, Speaker Quinn kicked-off the five-borough wide campaign which will raise awareness on the impact of hate and bias crimes. These events will demonstrate how communities can work together to combat hate crimes.

The citywide “Love Love Interfaith Weekend” will feature over 30 events throughout the five-boroughs. Events will be held by City leaders, advocates, clergy and neighborhood leaders in schools, churches and synagogues.

“This weekend is about bringing together religious and other communities together to take one unified stance against hate,” said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “In the wake of the recent anti-Semitic attacks in Brooklyn, the anti-Mexican attacks in Staten Island, the anti-Muslim hate crime in Manhattan and the anti-LGBT hate crime in the Bronx, now more than ever we need to stand together. These events will bring all communities together to stand even stronger against hate violence.”

The ‘Love Love Interfaith Weekend’ is part of a five-borough campaign against hate crimes called ‘Love Love. Hate Hate’. In October, the ‘Love Love. Hate Hate.’ public service advertising campaign was launched to celebrate diversity and condemn hate crimes in New York City. Print ads were placed at 100 bus shelters and 100 phone kiosks throughout the five boroughs, all either donated or from within the City’s existing inventory. The campaign runs through the end of the year.

“Whether a bias crime occurs on a corner in Greenwich Village, a basement apartment in the Bronx, outside of a synagogue in Brooklyn or on Port Richmond Avenue in my district, it's effects ripple all throughout this city. Hate cannot and will not be tolerated in any form and I applaud Speaker Quinn for her swift action during the summer in my district with the creation of the I Am Staten Island campaign and her commitment to fight hate and intolerance wherever it arises. I'm fully committed to this fight and with more leaders standing up and raising their voices, more and more people will realize the dangers hate brings to our shared communities,” said Council Member Debi Rose.

"Now more than ever we need to talk to each other about tolerance and understanding. We have all the tools and resources at our fingertips these days to promote tolerance. I am proud to be hosting two important events in my district; one at a school and one at a temple. As the leader of one of the most diverse municipal bodies in the nation, I applaud Speaker Christine Quinn for taking a major role in bringing all New Yorkers together to increase awareness and understanding,” said Council Member Karen Koslowitz.

“Diversity is a major component in making New York City a vibrant, unique and special place to live," said Council Member Annabel Palma. "In light of recent events, I am proud to join Speaker Quinn's "Love Love" campaign to highlight and celebrate inclusion, unity and respect,” saidCouncil Member Annabel Palma.

“In New York, a city of renowned diversity, shocking incidences of cruelty have occurred against the LGBT community and other minorities. This weekend is aimed at expanding understanding and tolerance through a variety of events. I am pleased to be hosting in my district, the screening and discussion of an extraordinary film “A Jihad for Love”, a movie which follows the experiences of 12 gay people living in various Islamic countries and the concept of “Jihad”, as an inner struggle,” said Council Member Rosie Mendez.

“I am proud to participate in City Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s Love Love Hate Hate Weekend. In a city as diverse as ours, it is extremely important that elected officials stand united in their fight against discrimination. I am excited to participate in this very important dialogue about respect, unity, and inclusion,” said Council Member Stephen Levin.

"Let us tell it here and it spreads everywhere. George Bernard Shaw once said ‘New York is a place halfway between America and the world.’” Richard Green, Crown Heights Youth Collective, Inc.

“We stand together with all leaders of faith and community to promote acts of kindness, understanding and inclusion to foster a better city for all who share its diverse neighborhoods,” said Rabbi Michael Miller, Executive Vice President and CEO, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

“Staten Island faith communities join with Speaker Quinn to make every day a day loving action toward all our neighbors---especially those who lives, cultures, colors, and situations are different then our own. We must be love in action at every moment and our example must be so public, so obvious, so inspiring and so disarming as to encourage the whole of our city to follow in our foot steps. We must be expert weavers of the diverse colorful and all covering patchwork of people who make up this great city, that others may look upon us with marvel and say see: See, how these people live together in such harmony!” said Reverend Terry Troia.

“As New Yorkers, we are proud of our great city, New York; the City that its beauty and strength are based on its inclusiveness and respect for the diversity of its inhabitants. We are grateful to our City officials, the Mayor, the Speaker and members of the Council, for their tireless efforts to build bridges of understanding, peace and harmony between New Yorkers of diverse backgrounds. We are particularly happy and in full support of Speaker Quinn for her initiative to hold a Love Love Interfaith Weekend. May God bless us and our City!” said Imam Shamsi Ali.