New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a stern warning on Thursday, stating that the state will not tolerate acts of Islamophobia. This comes after the police released photographs of a man who allegedly snatched a hijab from a teenage girl’s head at the end of last month.
In response to a report by New York’s Daily News, James expressed her strong disapproval on X, formerly Twitter, stating, “This is hateful, dangerous, and will not be tolerated in New York.”
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“We are determined to prevent any acts of Islamophobia and ensure the safety of all New Yorkers,” she stated emphatically. “If anyone has any information regarding this individual, please reach out to @NYPDnews without delay.”
If you have any information, please contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 or submit a tip through their website, crimestoppers.nypdonline.org. The officials assure that all calls will be kept strictly confidential.
In recent weeks, New York City has experienced a surge in tensions over the Israel-Hamas war. Pro-Palestinian rallies have taken over the streets, college campuses, and even high-profile events like the Met Gala. The protesters are demanding a ceasefire in the conflict and urging institutions like Columbia University and New York University to reconsider their affiliations with Israel.
The police have responded to these demonstrations with a strong show of force, resulting in numerous arrests. Unfortunately, there have also been reports of antisemitism at some of the protest locations. Despite these challenges, the student-led protests have largely remained peaceful. However, the NYPD has issued a warning regarding the potential involvement of “professional agitators” who may seek to escalate the situation.
In a recent post on X, James expressed his concerns about pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses. He emphasized that while students have every right to engage in peaceful protests, acts of antisemitic violence go beyond the boundaries.
From January 1 to March 31, there has been an increase in reported incidents of bias towards Jewish people, according to the NYPD Hate Crimes Dashboard. The number of incidents has risen to 81, compared to 61 during the same period last year.
During the first three months of 2024, there have been six reported incidents of bias towards Muslims in New York City. This is a significant increase compared to the two incidents reported during the same time period last year.
