Yesterday, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams led an interfaith gathering between leaders of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities as a gesture of spiritual solidarity in light of recent religiously-motivated assaults on Brooklyn residents. Standing with Assembly Members Dov Hikind and Karim Camara, Public Advocate Letitia James, Council Members Laurie Cumbo and Mathieu Eugene, and religious leaders in front of 339 Albany Avenue in Crown Heights, the site where Avrohom Wolosow was attacked as a part of the “knockout game” on August 13th, Borough President Adams outlined how recent events – such as the incident against Mr. Wolosow, the fire set at an East Flatbush church, and offenses committed towards worshipers outside of mosques in Bay Ridge and Midwood – would not deter the efforts of his office and the interfaith community to continue to improve relationships between the borough’s many diverse groups.
“I stand in partnership with my colleagues in government and a vast array of faith leaders to denounce hatred and bigotry on any and all levels,” said Borough President Adams. “Brooklyn is a beautiful mosaic which is home to individuals representing over 130 ethnicities who practice varied religions and speak diverse languages. Violence against an individual because of one’s religious affiliation, color, sexual orientation, or creed will not be tolerated by any of us, or by the members of the constituency that we represent. One Brooklyn means that we stand united against hate, we stand united against violence, and we stand united for peace and harmony.”
“We have the greatest police department in the country and we have great leadership at City Hall, but in 2014, no one should be afraid to walk the streets because of their religion, because of the color of their skin, or because of what they believe in,” said Assembly Member Hikind. “This press conference is about innocent citizens of our city being victimized, and so we all stand together and speak out to make sure that the most recent incident that happened is really the last one.”
“I’m here today to send a simple message: we stand together united against hate,” said Public Advocate Letitia James. “We’ve come together in a united front against any acts of hate; we will not be divided over any man-made differences.”
“There is no excuse for anyone to not feel safe on the streets where they live,” said Assembly Member Camara. “Our communities cannot stand for such evil acts.”
“People have come to New York from all across the world to escape religious and racial persecution,” said Council Member Cumbo. “When we begin to attack one another because of our race, religion, or sexual orientation, we begin to erode the very fiber of this country and of Brooklyn. When one person in this community is harmed, we are all harmed.”
“This gathering with all of these wonderful people, who took time out of their busy schedules to be here to fight injustice and to fight bigotry, is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Barry Sugar of the Jewish Leadership Council.
“When any one group is assailed by the fabric of our society, then it’s torn to pieces,” said Ibrahim Kurtiuis of the United American Muslim Faith Mosque. “Hatred in any type of form will not be tolerated at all by our community or any community in the greatest city in the world.”
“If you look at Brooklyn tonight or walk in any part of Brooklyn, you’ll see that Brooklyn is a beautiful mosaic of faith institutions,” Kevin Jones of S.O.S. Crown Heights. “No matter who your god may be, we’ll step in and answer, to send peace to a community.”
Following the remarks of Borough President Adams and his guests on the need for interfaith collaboration and tolerance, he led the group on a march down Albany Avenue to 738 Empire Boulevard where Rabbi Yossel Raksin lived with his family before he was murdered outside of a Jewish temple on Saturday, August 9, while visiting relatives in Miami. After extending their condolences to the Rabbi’s family, the interfaith group laid bouquets of flowers near his property and called for additional support to the religious communities.
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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3 Responses
Boro president Adams a real mentsch
please give us a break, all very nice and chummy. another photo-op between politicians.
Nothing positive ever came of these photo-ops. They had the same meeting/photo-op last year in williawmsburg on bedford ave.
Do you really think that these politicos have any power to change anything?
course not, just nice speeches,empty,useless. if you want “change” call sharpton,and co.
start a riot if you want attention to a cause,just like in Missouri,happening right now. Unless the nypd,goes after the teenage/adult terrorists in our neighborhood that attack us or “play” the nok-out game,in the same way,they hand out tickets,or rush to a donut break,then there will be no change.
NYPD,is not ordered by blazio,or brat-ton,to take this stuff seriously,(even though in last years meeting on bedford ave,it was promised,that NYPD,will prosecute these assaults seriously to the full extent of the law)
and as long as it doesnt take it seriously ( unless you’re black,or a “minority” ) no change will come.
unfortunately in these dark times ( shades of 1991 and Dinkins) it’s hard to have NYPD,take any forceful actions,especially against minorities,since blazio,is making the city go back into abyss just like Dinkins did.
what can you say to a guy,who shares a podium with that race hustler,anti semite?
hashem should protect us all, and a pointer for everyone,when passing certain undesirables ( the one’s who made the nok-out game famous) ALWAYS,ALWAYS,pass with caution,no matter adult,child,woman,keap a safe distance away,and keep your guard up at all times. if you see the videos on these attacks,the victims,are never ready ( who would be?) for the attack,that’s the sick trick,to nok-out the unsuspecting victim, gets punched out while he/she is most vulnerable,and this does the most damage r’l Also, carrying mace if possible (if legal) is a good idea too.
NYPD, cant be everywhere or willing to put a stop to this terrorism,it’s every man for himself.
To minkymalka:
Because parking tickets, speed traps, red light camera’s, a piece of paper on your sidewalk, etc brings in $$$ revenue for the City and is easy. Arresting a criminal is hard & only costs the City.
Deblasio & Bratton have been a big dissapointment to the dummies who voted for them.