(Courtesy of SWC GAIP) On Tuesday, July 28, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright hosted her second annual discussion with leaders in New York State on how to address the alarming rise in cases of anti-Semitism and hate crimes. The distinguished panel included JCRC-NY President Cheryl Fishbein, Executive Director of the NY Board of Rabbis Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Jewish Insider’s Managing Editor and former Campus Director for the Simon Wiesenthal Center Melissa Weiss and David Pollock and Mitchell D. Silber from the Community Security Initiative of the JCRC-NY. The virtual town hall was Assembly Member Seawright’s 18th consecutive town hall livestreamed on Facebook.
As a member of the New York State Assembly’s Caucus of Jewish legislators, Seawright is committed to keeping the conversation of tolerance, safety and the fight against injustices moving forward through advocacy and key legislative measures. Last year, Seawright hosted a discussion stemming from the rise of anti-Semitic attacks around the world and locally, including at Asphalt Green where so many neighborhood children play. A swastika was scrawled across the lockers in the locker room.
“For bigotry to be on display at a place where my children had played for years is frightening and still disturbing. An attack on a center for the community, serving toddlers to senior citizens and people of all races, religions and backgrounds, is an attack on all New Yorkers!” said Seawright.
The Anti-Defamation League reports that there has been a rise in anti-Semitic attacks, with a shocking 51 incidents in New York State since the beginning of the pandemic. A 51-year-old Orthodox Jewish man in Brooklyn reportedly was assaulted and subjected to anti-Semitic slurs as he was walking home on July 12. Three males drove next to the man and started hurling anti-Semitic epithets at him, proceeding to exit the vehicle and repeatedly punch the victim.
Anti-Semitic attitudes have also been on the rise. Notably, a Manhattan teen, Mark Shepard, confronted so-called “celebrity anti-Semitism” on Instagram live, confronting former NBA player Stephen Jackson. Earlier in the month, Jackson had publicly defended anti-Semitic posts on Instagram by Philadelphia Eagles’ wide receiver DeSean Jackson. “This teen is proof that if we see something, we must say something to correct misinformation or ignorance. There is nothing more harmful than perpetuating discrimination by ignoring acts of intolerance. We must call out the stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination that we see. Let us all take inspiration from Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who has been [the] subject of anti-Semitic graffiti in a New York City subway station. We should all accept the challenge to confront anti-Semitic acts and attitudes, taking inspiration from Justice Ginsburg who taught us to never give in, never give up and never forget where we came from!” said Seawright.
Tzivia Appleman, a Simon Wiesenthal Center Government Advocacy intern, helped to organize this important town hall, and has been working with Seawright’s office since the beginning of the pandemic.
