New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Monday that he will rename the state’s Domestic Terrorism Act after Yosef Neumann, who died on March 29 of the injuries he suffered three months earlier during a stabbing attack on the last night of Hanukkah in Monsey, N.Y.
Cuomo has called on the state legislature to pass the “Josef Neumann Hate Crimes Domestic Terrorism Act” in the state budget due on Wednesday. He said in a statement, “We owe it to Mr. Neumann, his family and the entire family of New York to get it done now.”
The governor added, “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Josef Neumann, who suffered brutal stab wounds after an attacker invaded the home of Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg on the final night of Hanukkah three months ago. This repugnant attack shook us to our core, demonstrating that we are not immune to the hate-fueled violence that we shamefully see elsewhere in the country.”
Neumann, 72, fell into a coma following a head injury in the Dec. 28 attack from which he never recovered. Four others were also injured.
The violence prompted Cuomo to propose passing legislation that defines hate crimes as an act of domestic terrorism.
Neumann’s attacker, Grafton Thomas, 37, faces state and federal charges related to the crime. Thomas has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which could send him to prison for the rest of his life if founded guilty.
