BROOKLYN, NY -New York City Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo, chair of the Committee on Women's Issues and co-chair of the Women's Caucus, issued the following statement after a noose and anti-Semitic graffitti was discovered in Crown Heights.
"Twenty-five years after experiencing race riots in our own backyard, I am offended that anyone would believe that a noose or defacing city property with anti-Semitic graffiti would be appropriate or tolerated in Crown Heights. These acts of hate will not sow the seeds of bigotry that we have worked collectively to uproot from our community. We will not allow these gruesome discoveries to undermine our years of progress, perpetuate fear, or foster prejudice based on one's race or religious belief. Despite the divisive rhetoric in Washington, we have and will continue to stand united as neighbors who believe that our strength as a community lies in the diverse cultures and religious beliefs that we proudly represent. Hate crimes will not trump our shared values in uplifting and empowering one another."
New York City Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo represents the 35th District, which covers Bedford-Stuyvesant, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, Fort Greene and Prospect Heights. She serves as Chair of the Committee on Women's Issues and a member of several committees: Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations; Finance; Higher Education; Public Housing; and Youth Services. Council Member Cumbo is also co-chair of the Women's Caucus; a member of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus; and the Jewish Caucus.
