Last month, letters throughout the UK and on social media called for violence against Muslims and proposed "rewards" for anti-Muslim acts.
In response to the racist anti-muslim campaign "Punish a Muslim Day" that has gone viral online, Borough President Eric Adams and Councilmember Jumaane Williams joined faith leaders and members of the NYPD Muslim Officers Society on Monday to address community concerns and to highlight Brooklyn's unity in the face of any potential bias-based attack. The meeting took place at the Pakistani American Youth Society (PAYS) in Ditmas Park.
"It is difficult to describe the revulsion that I felt after learning of the spread of this vile hate of sick individuals who seek to turn violent bigotry into a horrifying and nauseating game," said Councilmember Williams. "We cannot treat this as a hoax, or with anything other than grave severity and outspoken condemnation. These threats are serious at any time, and exponentially more so in this time when malicious people attempt to use those small differences among us to further divide and pit us against one another."
Last month, letters were circulated in the mail throughout the United Kingdom and on social media that called for violence against Muslims on Tuesday, April 3. The letters outlined a point system for various hate crimes and proposed "rewards" for acts ranging from verbal abuse and assault to murder and bombings.
Lieutenant Adeel Rana, president of the NYPD's Muslim Officers Society, said to the NY Daily News that her agency helped identify locations across the city for additional patrols on Tuesday.
Adams and other elected officials including Assemblymember Felix Ortiz and Councilmember Justin Brannan plan to join the NYPD Muslim Officers Society in an expression of solidarity, as they patrol the community today. They will patrol in Bay Ridge, home to one of the largest Muslim-American populations in New York City, joined by members of PAYS as well as volunteers from groups such as Muslim Civilian Observation Patrol and Services (MCOPS) and Muslims Giving Back (MGB).
"Our message must be loud and clear: There can be no Punish a Muslim Day," said Adams. "Its goal is to create terror. Let's embrace a Muslim, let's embrace a Christian, let's embrace a person of Jewish faith. Let's embrace the diversity that this city has to offer."
