New York district attorneys publish statement against anti-Jewish hate crimes

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — On Tuesday, district attorneys representing all 62 counties in New York released a joint statement presenting a united front against antisemitism. They condemned violence against Jewish people and vandalism of Jewish spaces and pledged to prosecute those hate crimes aggressively.

District attorneys lead the prosecution team in their county, and are elected to the position by popular vote. New York State Attorney General Letitia James, also elected to her position, added her name to the statement denouncing the spike in anti-Jewish hate crimes, as well.

In response, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), which operates three offices Downstate, thanked the state lawyers for publicizing their stance. "Many Jews feel compelled to conceal their Jewish identity in public or alter their behavior because they are scared about what could happen to them," read part of AJC's statement. "The state’s top prosecutors have sent a strong message: this has to stop. Committing antisemitic hate crimes will have severe consequences."

"No New Yorker should fear for their safety for any reason, and especially because of who they are," reads the statement. It pledges to investigate violence and threats of violence motivated by hate against Jewish people. Take a look at the district attorneys' statement below:

“As law enforcement and elected leaders in New York, we have a responsibility to assure the communities that we serve that their safety is paramount. Recently, there has been an escalation of targeted threats and attacks on Jewish communities and individuals, including threats to Jewish riders on the New York City subway system, vandalism targeting the homes of Jewish board members of the Brooklyn Museum, and antisemitic signs and chants during a gathering outside a memorial in New York City to victims killed at the Nova music festival, which caused the exhibit to be locked down.

“These acts have left large segments of our communities–both Jews and non-Jews–scared for their safety and that of their families and neighbors. No New Yorker should fear for their safety for any reason, and especially because of who they are.

“We support the rights of all New Yorkers to lawfully and peacefully gather and protest, but we want to reassure all communities, including Jewish ones, that we will understand the fear and pledge to investigate and prosecute all hate crimes and acts of violence or threats of violence based on the facts and to the fullest extent possible under the law.”