Griffo statement on murders of Israeli Embassy staff members

 

“Like so many others, I am disgusted by the murder of two young Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. While we await more details about this horrific incident, I continue to be disturbed by increasing antisemitic threats, attacks and vandalism here in New York, on college campuses and across the nation. Hatred and discrimination should not be tolerated. Everyone should be free to practice their religion or go about their daily lives without having to live in fear, and those who commit antisemitic acts should face consequences and be held accountable for their unacceptable actions.”

 

Sen. Griffo and the working group will continue to push forward their antisemitism legislative package and have urged their colleagues in the Legislature to consider these bills before close of session:

 

S.6932 (Lanza)- Makes Hate Crimes Bail Eligible.

 

S.6842 (Griffo)- Relates to protections against antisemitism in the human rights law and the hate crimes statute.

 

S.1752 (Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick) – creates the “Dismantling Student Antisemitism (DSA) Act”- implements antisemitism awareness and prevention sensitivity training in colleges; threat of loss of funding.

 

S.1943 (Weber) – makes a specified offense or a trespass at a house of worship a hate crime.

 

S.1119 (Oberacker) – expands the prohibition of harassing conduct involving Nazi symbols. Dedicate Funding in the State Budget:
1. To improve security for synagogues and yeshivas.

2. To provide education and awareness of antisemitic behavior and how to prevent such behavior.

 

S.25 (Tedisco) – adds a penalty to New York State’s hate crimes law for any SUNY or CUNY student convicted of such crime to be expelled and not be allowed to ever take a course, be enrolled, or fill out an application to take credit in universities and colleges in the SUNY and CUNY system.

 

S.722 (Rhoads) – prohibits funding for SUNY, CUNY or community colleges which, directly or indirectly, permit terrorist organizations on campus.

 

S.1954 (Weber) – prohibits students from receiving TAP if they engage in antisemitic behavior.

 

S.4982 (Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick) – increases funding for the program Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes from $35 million to $100 million and expands the program’s eligibility to also include small businesses.

 

S.531 (Martins) – enacts the “New York State Antisemitism Vandalism Act” which establishes the crime of vandalism of pro-Israel print, provides a class A misdemeanor for any individual who intentionally destroys, damages, removes, or causes to be destroyed, damaged or removed 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 in any way.

 

S.534 (Martins) – enhances penalties for those who obstruct traffic and access to buildings during protests and allow for it to qualify as a hate crime.

 

S.1268 (Rhoads) prohibit state funding for any degree-granting institution of higher education if they permit certain pro-terrorist groups on campus, and any group or organization on such campuses that engage in or promote terrorist activities.

 

S.723 (Rhoads) establishes new crimes of deceptive wearing of a mask, and aggravated assault while wearing a mask, a class B misdemeanor and class A misdemeanor, respectively. 

 

S.4983 (Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick) prohibits state funding for any college where a member of such college’s instructional staff directly or indirectly promotes, encourages, advocates or engages in any activity on campus in support of a terrorist organization.

 

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