Sen. Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick & Republican Colleagues Unveil Antisemitism Report

Last year, the members of the New York State Senate Republican Antisemitism Working Group were tasked with developing recommendations to address the rise in antisemitic incidents in New York. Roundtable events were held in Rockland and Nassau Counties involving stakeholders in the community. 

“In the interest of working to protect my constituents and all Jewish people across New York State, I was proud to join with my colleagues in the Senate Republican Conference to form a working group to address the rise of anti-Semitism. I am disgusted by the recent increase of anti-Semitic hatred that we have seen in New York. I very proudly represent a district with a large population of Jewish constituents, and the idea that any citizen should feel threatened on the basis of their deeply held religious beliefs is sickening. Together with the other members of the working group, we have put forth necessary legislation that would ensure that our Jewish brothers and sisters no longer have to live in fear,” stated Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, 9th Senate District. 

With the Senate and Assembly expected to vote on the New York State Budget, the working group is urging the adoption of five priority legislative initiatives in the enacted state budget: 

• S.7773 (Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick): creates the “Dismantling Student Antisemitism (DSA) Act” which implements antisemitism awareness and prevention sensitivity training in colleges with threat of loss of funding; 
• S.3275 (Griffo): places a definition of antisemitism within the state human rights law; provides that antisemitism that incites, causes or results in any act of violence, or injury to a person, or the damage to or destruction of real or personal property, shall be deemed to constitute a hate crime; 
• S.7752 (Weber): prohibits students from receiving TAP if engaging in antisemitic behavior; 
• S.8625 (Martins): enacts the “New York State Antisemitism Vandalism Act” which establishes the crime of vandalism of pro-Israel print and provides a class A misdemeanor for any individual who intentionally destroys, damages, removes any banner, poster, flyer or billboard which is located in a public space, where the intent or purpose of such banner, poster, flyer or billboard is to bring awareness for Israeli individuals who have been victims of a crime, or to positively support the country or citizens of Israel; and
• S.8774 (Oberacker): expands the prohibition of harassing conduct involving Nazi symbols. 

The New York State Senate Republican Conference is committed to restoring public safety and protecting our Jewish brothers and sisters from hateful acts of violence. None of us should be living in fear. No individual should feel threatened or unsafe. These proposals and dedicated funding are imperative steps we can take to ensure the safety of our communities.

A copy of the Letter and Report are attached.