CAIR-NY Condemns Threats Spray-Painted on Manhattan Church Door; Welcomes Arrest, Hate Crime Charges for Man Who Drew Swastikas in Monsey Synagogue
Photos courtesy Google Maps
(NEW YORK, NY, 6/28/2022)—The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today condemned threatening graffiti that was scrawled on an Upper West Side church’s door, which ominously read, "If abortion isn’t safe, neither are you."
According to police, the spray-painted threat was discovered on one of the doors of the Ascension Roman Catholic Church near Amsterdam Avenue early this morning, along with an anarchy symbol and the name “Jane’s Revenge,” which police believe links the crime to a known militant, pro-abortion extremist group that called for a “Night of Rage” after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
SEE: Graffiti on NYC church warns: ‘If abortion isn’t safe, neither are you’
CAIR-NY also applauds Ramapo police on their capture of the alleged vandal who scrawled Nazi swastikas inside of the Monsey, N.Y., synagogue where he had been working. Rolando DeJesus Gomez-Velasquez, 32, is being charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime and first-degree aggravated harassment.
SEE: Hillcrest Man Accused In Monsey Synagogue Vandalism
Afaf Nasher, Executive Director of CAIR-NY, said in a statement:
“We condemn vandalism in all its forms, but when houses of worship are targeted with threats of violence and symbols of white supremacy and genocide, we cannot remain silent. We must do more to protect the sanctity of our churches, synagogues, mosques, and other sacred spaces.
“CAIR-NY and the New York Muslim community stand in solidarity with our Christian and Jewish brothers and sisters against these vile manifestations of hate and look forward to justice being served in both cases.”
She added that CAIR-NY and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging white supremacy, anti-Jewish hate, anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and all other forms of bigotry.
CAIR-NY has condemned several other disturbing hate incidents in recent weeks:
SEE:
CAIR-NY Condemns Alleged Snatching of Jewish Boy’s Yarmulke by Man in Brooklyn
CAIR-NY Condemns Racist Assault on Two Asian American Teenage Girls on Staten Island Bus
CAIR-NY Condemns Assault, Robbery of Hispanic Man in Queens, Welcomes Hate Crime Probe
CAIR-NY Condemns Racist Verbal Abuse Targeting Black Pastor in Newburgh
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Become a Fan of CAIR-NY on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNewYork
Subscribe to CAIR-NY's Email List
https://www.cair-ny.org/stay-connected
Subscribe to CAIR-NY's Twitter Feed
https://twitter.com/CAIRNewYork
Subscribe to CAIR-NY’s YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/CAIRNYtv
Follow CAIR-NY on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cairnewyork
Donate to CAIR-NY
https://www.cair-ny.org/donate
Do you like reading CAIR-NY's press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR-NY's work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR-NY's advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR-NY.
END
CONTACT: Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; Ahmed Mohamed, CAIR-NY Legal Director, 646-481-2103, ahmedmohamed@cair.com