BP MARKOWITZ, DEPUTY BP GRAHAM STATEMENT ON VERDICT IN HATE CRIME DEATH OF JOSÉ SUCUZHAÑAY
(Delivered by Deputy BP Graham at this morning's press conference outside
GOOD MORNING, I'M DEPUTY BOROUGH PRESIDENT YVONNE GRAHAM.
BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARTY MARKOWITZ AND I WERE OUTRAGED TO LEARN THAT HAKIM SCOTT WAS ACQUITTED OF THE HATE CRIME CHARGE FOR THE VICIOUS AND DEADLY ATTACK ON JOSÉ SUCUZHAÑAY IN 2008.
WE BELIEVE--AS DO COUNTLESS BROOKLYNITES AND NEW YORKERS--THAT THE ANTI-GAY AND ANTI-LATINO SLURS USED BY HIS ASSAILANTS RAISED THIS HEARTLESS ATTACK TO THE LEVEL OF A HATE CRIME.
WHEN HAKIM SCOTT WAS PUT ON TRIAL, WE HAD HOPES THAT THIS VICIOUS CRIME WOULD BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW--AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE BROOKLYN DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE NYPD FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS.
BUT WE ALSO HOPED THAT THE VERDICT WOULD SEND THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR THAT INTOLERANCE, BIGOTRY AND HATE--WHICH WE WITNESSED AS RECENTLY AS MARCH WHEN A YOUNG GAY MAN WAS ATTACKED IN CARROLL GARDENS--HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR STREETS OR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UNFORTUNATELY, A VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER AND ATTEMPTED ASSAULT ALONE DOES NOT SEND THAT MESSAGE.
ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE OUTRAGED. BUT WE CONTINUE TO HOPE THAT KEITH
THE MESSAGE TO OTHERS WHO WOULD COMMIT SUCH HEINOUS ACTS OF BIGOTRY MUST BE THAT THEY WILL BE PROSECUTED, AND SUBJECT TO THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE PUNISHMENT UNDER OUR HATE CRIME LAWS.
AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS REMAIN WITH JOSE'S FAMILY AND LOVED ONES.