New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called last week for an extra $10 million—$60 million in all—to fight antisemitism and other hate crimes in the state. She also aims to increase the kinds of violations in the state that could potentially be tried under that banner.
She said “the rising tide of hate is abhorrent and unacceptable, and I’m committed to doing everything in my power to keep New Yorkers safe. Since the despicable Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, there has been a disturbing rise in hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers.”
Hochul added that in recent years, there has been “hate-fueled violence” against black people in Buffalo, N.Y., in addition to “disturbing harassment” of Asian, Asian-American and Pacific Islander people, and gay people on the streets of New York. (There have also been numerous attacks on Chassidic Jews well before Oct. 7, particularly in the borough of Brooklyn, which the governor didn’t mention.)
“We will never rest until all New Yorkers feel safe, regardless of who they are, who they love or how they worship,” she stated.
Under current law, New York recognizes 66 crimes that could be charged as motivated by hate. Among those the governor seeks to add— bringing the number up to 97—are graffiti, arson, gang assault, first-degree rape, criminal possession of a weapon and sex trafficking, according to a release from her office.
