Senator Adriano Espaillat and Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez held a press conference last month with Yeshiva University representatives, CB 12 Board Chair Shah Ally, religious leaders and residents to denounce the accusing of two Yeshiva University students who were threatened and told to take off their Yarmulkes.Reports surfaced this morning that the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force had identified the person accused of verbally accosting two Yeshiva University students at a Dunkin Donuts in Washington Heights several weeks ago. This individual, now suspected to be hiding out from the police near his home in New Jersey, was suspended from his job at Driscoll Foods after police presented evidence against him.
In response to this news, NYC Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez and State Senator Adriano Espaillat issued this joint statement:
“We were pleased to hear this morning of a positive development in the recent case of two Yeshiva University students who were accosted by a hateful individual, due only to their faith. We want to thank the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force and the employer of this individual, Driscoll Foods, for taking a step toward justice for these students and for our Uptown community. It is no surprise that he is not from the area because this type of behavior is not accepted in Washington Heights. This individual should turn himself in for questioning immediately.
While this man’s words were hateful and anti-Semitic, he only brought our community closer together against intolerance. In the wake of this act we assembled as neighbors, leaders, elected officials and friends to denounce hate and celebrate our wonderful multiculturalism. As representatives of this area, we could not be prouder of how the Washington Heights community responded to this hateful action, this support shows the true strength of diversity.”
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