An overflow crowd at the Jamaica Muslim Center greeted Mayor Bill de Blasio for a visit during evening prayers on Friday and applauded his vow that the city would work to strengthen its ties with Muslims across the five boroughs.
“For the whole city, we know we have to do more, but we also have an important mission to deepen the relationship between the Muslim community and the city government,” de Blasio said. “This is a community that wants to have a close working relationship with the city government. It’s up to us to make sure that we are meeting that, and that we are creating that deep partnership.”
The mayor acknowledged that his visit comes at a time of great strife around the world following recent terrorist attacks in Paris and last week’s mass shooting at an office in San Bernardino, California, which the FBI declared on Friday as a terrorist attack.
De Blasio said the city and country must “reject hatred in all its forms” and that “we need to be clear that the cycle of hatred is such a dangerous one.” He alluded to calls from certain politicians across the country that the U.S. increase scrutiny on those of the Muslim faith in noting that division among the American people is exactly what the terrorists who perpetrated recent attacks desire.
“The last thing terrorists want to see is respect for all peoples. The last thing terrorists want to see is inclusion. The last thing terrorists want to see is democracy and respect for human rights,” de Blasio said. “Their entire construct is based on division, but it’s incumbent upon us in a free and democratic society to therefore live up to our best ideals so that every member of the community knows this society fully is available.”
The mayor encouraged a greater collaboration between the Muslim community and the NYPD, a relationship that came under strain after reports surfaced of secret police surveillance of mosques across the region in recent years. He urged Muslim New Yorkers, especially, not to keep silent in the wake of a hate crime perpetrated against them.
“We can only stop hate crimes if they are reported and if we have the full support of the community in pursuing those who have done these acts of hate,” de Blasio said. “The NYPD needs you to be the partner to stop these acts of discrimination. And we know something else … this Muslim community of New York City is an ally in the fight against terror.”
De Blasio, in particular, commended members of the 107th Precinct for their service and cooperation with the local Muslim community. He also praised Councilmen I. Daneek Miller and Rory Lancman and other city officials in attendance Friday, including Senior Advisor to the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit Sarah Sayeed, Commissioner for Community Affairs Marco Carrion, Chairperson of the City Commission on Human Rights Caremlyn Malalis, and Small Business Services Commissioner Gregg Bishop.
