Governor Cuomo Announces New Actions to Combat Hate Crimes and Anti-Semitism Across New York State
Unveils $25 Million Grant Program for Safety and Security Upgrades at Schools and Day Care Centers At Risk of Hate Crimes or Attacks Because of Their Ideology, Beliefs or MissionAnnounces $5,000 Reward for Any Information Leading to Arrest and Conviction for a Hate Crime
Launches New Hate Crimes Text Line – Text “HATE” to 81336 to Report Incidents of Bias and Discrimination
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced new actions to combat hate
crimes and anti-Semitism across New York State. The measures include a
$25 million grant program to boost safety and security at New York’s
schools and day care centers at risk of hate crimes or attacks because
of their ideology, beliefs or mission. The grant program will provide
funding for additional security training needs, cameras and state-of-the-art
​technology, door-hardening, improved lighting and other related security
upgrades. The Governor made the announcement following a roundtable with
over 50 religious leaders from across the state, including members representing
the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths.
At the Governor’s direction, the state will also expand its toll-free
hotline to include text message capability to report incidents of bias
and discrimination. A $5,000 reward is also being made available for any
information leading to an arrest and conviction for a hate crime.
"New York must always be the beacon of tolerance and hope for all,
and with the recent explosion of anti-Semitism and hate crimes, it is
more important than ever before that we do everything in our power to
ensure the safety and equal treatment of all New Yorkers,"
Governor Cuomo said. "Any acts of bias or discrimination will be met with the full force
of the law. New York is and always has been a place that celebrates diversity
and religious tolerance, and we say to all New Yorkers who feel unsafe
– we will always protect you."
The Jewish community has been increasingly targeted by bomb threats and hate crimes in recent months. According to the JCC Association of North America, there have been 69 incidents of bias and discrimination at 54 JCCs in 27 states since January 2017. Yesterday, there was a bomb threat targeting the Anti-Defamation League’s national headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. In addition, across New York State, there was a 31 percent increase in reported hate crimes targeting Muslims in 2016 across New York State compared to 2015 and an 18 percent increase in reported hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.
"New York is and always has been a place that celebrates diversity and religious tolerance, and we say to all New Yorkers who feel unsafe – we will always protect you."
$25 Million Grant Program For Schools, Community Centers and Day Care Facilities
To combat the surge of incidents of hate and intolerance, the state is
launching a $25 million grant program to boost safety and security at
New York’s schools and day care centers at risk of hate crimes or
attacks because of their ideology, beliefs or mission. The grant program
will provide funding for additional security training needs, cameras and
state-of-the-art ​technology, door-hardening, improved lighting and other
related security upgrades. The new grant program will be administered
by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.
Text “HATE” to 81336
In November 2016, Governor Cuomo launched a toll-free hotline to report
incidents of bias or discrimination. To date, the hotline has received
more than 3,175 calls. Building on its success, New York will expand the
Division of Human Rights (DHR) statewide hotline to include text messaging
capability.
Today, Governor Cuomo will launch the Hate Crimes Text Line to enable
any New Yorker to easily report incidents in their community. Those who
have experienced or witnessed bias or discrimination are encouraged to
text “HATE” to 81336 with details of the incident, including
photo or video documentation. Texts will be monitored by the State Police,
who will handle any potential criminal matters. Additionally, cases of
discrimination that are covered by the New York State Human Rights Law
may be further investigated by DHR. In case of emergency or if you are
a victim of a crime, always dial 911. A $5,000 reward is also being made
available for any information leading to an arrest and conviction for
a hate crime.
The launch of the Hate Crimes Text Line is designed to make it as easy
as possible to report incidents across the state and gather critical information
to inform statewide response efforts. With aggregate data on the frequency
and location of incidents, officials can better map activity, target response
efforts and deploy resources effectively.
The launch of the Hate Crimes Text Line marks New York’s latest
text campaign designed to deliver critical services and immediate information
to New Yorkers. In April 2016, Governor Cuomo launched the “Get
Screened” Breast Cancer Text Line, providing New Yorkers with information
on the nearest location for breast cancer screenings in their community.
Protecting Civil Rights and Combatting Hate Crimes
Today's announcement builds on Governor Cuomo’s recent actions
to combat bias and discrimination. In November, Governor Cuomo directed
the State Police to create a new Hate Crimes Unit to investigate and offer
assistance to other law enforcement agencies investigating potential hate
crimes. The Governor will also advance legislation to expand the state
Human Rights Law to protect all students and establish the nation’s
first public/private legal defense fund to ensure all immigrants, regardless
of status, have access to representation
If you have been the victim of a crime, you may contact the New York State
Office of Victim Services, which funds 223 programs statewide, providing
direct services, such as crisis intervention and counseling, to victims
of crime, including hate crimes. Those programs also can help any crime
victim apply for compensation and other assistance from the agency, which
is a safety net for individuals who have no other resources. Individuals
seeking help from OVS also can search for a service provider online:
https://ovs.ny.gov/locate-program. For more information, please visit:
www.ovs.ny.gov.
Under state law, a person commits a hate crime when one of a specified
set of offenses is committed targeting a victim because of a perception
or belief about their race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender,
religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation, or
when such an act is committed as a result of that type of perception or
belief. Hate crimes can be perpetrated against an individual, a group
of individuals or against public or private property. Also under state
law it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, national origin,
religion, ethnicity and many other protected classifications.
New York has the proud distinction of being the first state in the nation
to enact a Human Rights Law, affording every citizen "an equal opportunity
to enjoy a full and productive life." The New York State Division
of Human Rights is the agency in charge of enforcing this law, which prohibits
discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit,
and other jurisdictions, based on age, race, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, marital status, disability, military status, and other specified
classes. For more information about the Human Rights Law and the work
of the agency, please visit the Division of Human Rights’ website at
www.dhr.ny.gov.