This week witnessed Governor Kathy Hochul of New York endorsing several legislative measures as she builds a robust initiative to combat crime and shield New York’s residents. Among these laws, there is a particular one that fortifies the wellbeing of citizens against harmful acts driven by hate. The said law modifies an existing state legislation that considers the act of removing or threatening to displace religious attire, like hijabs or yarmulkes, tantamount to second-degree aggravated harassment, as pointed out by the governor’s office.
The public’s safety presides as my principal concern, and I am considerably invested in leveraging all feasible tools to secure the safety of New Yorkers, stated Governor Hochul. She reflected on several instances over the past year where the religious attire of individuals was targeted in violent acts. She also referenced a recent incident which took place on Staten Island where a man’s yarmulke was forcefully removed while he was just taking a stroll around Willowbrook.
The incident concerned a 37-year-old man making his way through the crossroads of Harold Street and Forest Hill Road round about 4:30 in the afternoon on November 10. According to the police, a couple of unidentified individuals approached him on a black moped. One of these individuals proceeded to forcefully remove the victim’s kippah from his head before driving off in no specific direction.
In the subsequent days, a 17-year-old boy was taken into custody by the police on November 15. He was formally charged with second-degree aggravated harassment premised on religion or race. The incident reflected the importance of the new law and the necessity of maintaining religious harmony in society.
I profoundly appreciate Governor Hochul for officiating this essential legislation. This assures that acts like removing or threatening to displace religious garments like kippahs and hijabs are recognized for what they truly stand for – manifestations of aggravated harassment and hate crimes, utterly unacceptable in our society, expressed Nader Sayegh, New York State Assemblyman.
The importance of securing the rights of individuals to freely express their religious faith is a fundamental part of ensuring the safety and respect of all New Yorkers, he added. He cited the law as an assurance to people, irrespective of their faith, that they are safe in the state of New York.
He emphasized on the strong message that the law sends, asserting that hate crimes and intimidations of any form will be sternly dealt with and will not find acceptance. This legislation diligently seeks to prevent uninhibited expressions of hate and reiterates New York’s commitment to guarantee the protection of its citizens’ rights.