Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has announced the formation of a subcommittee as part of the Suffolk County Jewish-American Advisory Board with a special focus of combatting antisemitism.
“In Suffolk County we strongly condemn hate, racism, violence and bigotry directed towards any community,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “While it is disturbing that we continue to see acts of antisemitism across the world, we must remain vigilant and united in standing against it. With the creation of this new subcommittee, we will continue to work towards our goals of creating a safer world for our Jewish brothers and sisters.”
“Hate crimes create fear and anxiety in communities and have no place in Suffolk County or in our society,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison said. “The Suffolk County Police Department has a specialized unit to investigate hate crimes and hate-related incidents and we are proud to be part of this subcommittee to address and combat anti-Semitism. I commend County Executive Bellone for putting this issue at the forefront and look forward to working with our new partners to bring attention and resources to address hate against Jewish individuals.”
The subcommittee will consist of members of the Jewish-American Advisory Board, a representative from the County Executive’s office, a representative of Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey, a representative of Minority Leader Jason Richberg, and representatives from law enforcement.
In 2021, County Executive Bellone adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)’s working definition of antisemitism in Suffolk County, becoming the first County in the nation to do so. The IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism is internationally recognized and has become the authoritative definition for use by governments and international organizations.
Allan Richter, Chairman, Suffolk County Jewish Advisory Board said: “The dramatic rise in antisemitism in the U.S. and abroad should be met with an outcry of powerful resistance and pushback. Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, in creating a subcommittee of the county’s Jewish Advisory Board to combat Jew hatred, is once again demonstrating a much-needed proactive approach to help tackle this virus of ignorance and hate. We are grateful to County Executive Bellone and his administration for their deep friendship to the Jewish community.”
Avi Posnick, Northeast Director, StandWithUs said: “StandWithUs is very thankful to County Executive Bellone for organizing this critically-needed committee. With antisemitic incidents continuing to rise, including on Long Island, it is important to utilize all resources available to combat this. StandWithUs, a leading education organization that fights antisemitism, is proud and honored to serve on this Committee and partner with the County.”
“The Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island (JCRC-LI) commends Suffolk County’s leadership for their establishment of the Antisemitism Subcommittee. This is an important step in the fight against Jew-hatred and JCRC-LI is proud to be a part of this vital undertaking. We look forward to productive discussions and implementing strategic initiatives to further benefit the residents of Suffolk County.”
