By Bill Parry
State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) condemned a video which has surfaced on the Internet, displaying a racist incident on Crescent Street in Astoria targeting an Arab-American motorist.
The driver of a white SUV unleashes a profanity-laced tirade at the victim, who records the confrontation with his cell phone.
“Video all you want, you’re an Arab terrorist,” the driver said, expletives deleted. “Trump is president so you can kiss your visa goodbye. He’ll deport you soon, you terrorist.”
With a surge in recent hate crimes, Gianaris denounced what he called hateful rhetoric and the violence it inspires.
“In this community, we pride ourselves on our diversity and tolerance,” Gianaris said. “Hateful rhetoric should not be tolerated in a neighborhood where all races and different beliefs are welcome. More than ever, now is the time to unite and organize. We will stand together against cowardly attacks and show that our values for our country will triumph over hate.”
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) was appalled when she saw the video.
“This was a disgusting tirade, an out-of-control eruption of hate and bigotry, nothing less than verbal vomit,” she said. “Astoria is a thriving community where people from at least 55 countries, from 5 continents, and followers of at least 9 different faiths, live and prosper in harmony and peace. And there will always be a place here for anyone who wants to live in a country where liberty and justice is for all. But there is no place in Astoria for intolerance, bigotry and hatred.”
On Wednesday, the NYPD announced a 31 percent increase in hate crimes in New York City in the last year.
“There’s been a lot of rhetoric, but this is New York City, and we’re much better than that, and we won’t tolerate these crimes,” Police Commissioner James O’Neill told reporters Wednesday. “We have the best hate crimes investigators in the United States of America. So if you’re going to engage in behavior like this, rest assured that you’ll be arrested as quickly as possible and we will work with our prosecutors to make sure you’re fully prosecuted under the hate crimes statutes.”
The incident has not been reported to the 114th Precinct, Deputy Inspector Peter Fortune said, but Gianaris felt the need to denounce the video given the uneasy climate since Election Day.
“We’ve heard about some recent incidents of discrimination including several incidents in western Queens. I stand united with the Queens community — hate and bigotry have no place in our neighborhoods,” City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) said. “Any New Yorker who is the victim of harassment or discrimination shouldn’t be afraid to make a report through official channels so that we have a record to fight against this intolerance.”
He said victims should call the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force at (646) 610-5267, the Queens District Attorney’s 24-hour hotline at (718) 286-6580, or 911.
“Our city’s strength is our diversity,” Constantinides said. “Now more than ever, cities must lead the way against harassment and prejudice.”
On Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo linked the recent incidents of bias and discrimination to the campaign and election of Donald Trump.
“New York and this nation were founded on the premise that we are all created equal. In the weeks that have followed the election, that promise has rung hollow for too many New Yorkers and Americans,” Cuomo said. “I call on public officials, of all parties, and indeed, all people everywhere, to denounce and repudiate these expressions, and to pledge to punish to the full extent of the law anyone engaged in such acts. To remain silent is to engage in a dangerous new permissiveness that threatens our American way.”
Earlier this week, the governor launched a toll-free hot line to report incidents of bias and discrimination. Residents who have experienced bias-motivated threats, harassment or discrimination are encouraged to call (888) 392-3644 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If you want to report a crime or fear for your safety, call 911 immediately.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
