OPINION: Leaders need to speak with one voice against hate crimes in Brooklyn
In the atmosphere that has been created over the last two years throughout America, it is not surprising but it is nonetheless disturbing that the city has seen a spike in hate crimes. The anti-Chinese graffiti painted on several sites in Bensonhurst over the weekend is symptomatic of a disease that needs to be wiped out before it spreads.
On Monday, elected officials and community leaders strongly denounced the graffiti at a press conference led by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. A $1,000 reward was offered to anyone coming forth with information leading to the arrest of the vandals responsible for the racist graffiti.
Adams, who was joined by the United Chinese Association of Brooklyn, Assemblymember William Colton, Democratic District Leader Nancy Tong, political hopefuls Andrew Gounardes, Ross Barkan and Ethan Lustig-Elgrably, and representatives for Assemblymember Peter Abbate, state Sen. Marty Golden and Councilmember Justin Brannan and longtime Chinese-American resident Dr. Tim Law, who’s lived in the neighborhood for 50 years.