Niagara Leader

The New York State Senate Republican Conference Antisemitism Working Group has presented their Antisemitism report and urged Governor Hochul and Legislative Majorities to prioritize legislative recommendations aimed at addressing the surge of antisemitism in communities.

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Antisemitism is not a new problem, but we have seen a drastic and alarming increase since the horrific terrorist attacks on Israel in October. This is one of the most pressing issues facing our state.” Senator Jack Martins, Chair of the Antisemitism Working Group, echoed this sentiment by stating, “This report is just the beginning of our attempt to address this hate-crime in meaningful, and thoughtful ways. If this report has proven anything it is that New York must do more to combat antisemitism.”

The working group has proposed five priority legislative initiatives to be included in the New York State Budget, including measures such as defining antisemitism within the state human rights law, prohibiting students from receiving financial aid if engaging in antisemitic behavior, and creating awareness and prevention sensitivity training in colleges.

Senator Joseph Griffo emphasized the importance of these recommendations, stating, “The recommendations unveiled by the New York State Senate Republican Conference Antisemitism Working Group, developed with input from stakeholders and roundtable discussions, will address rising antisemitism, prevent antisemitic incidents from occurring in the future and enhance public safety in the state.”

The New York State Senate Republican Conference is committed to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety of all communities. Senator Bill Weber highlighted the need for continuous efforts to combat this issue, stating, “Let's take this report and the legislation introduced because of it and continually work towards ending antisemitism.”

The full letter of priorities and legislative proposals can be accessed for further information.