MEDIA ADVISORY: NEW YORK COALITION FOR SAFETY, PEACE, EQUITY & ACCOUNTABILITY

Muslim, Jewish and Allied Leaders to Hold Emergency Press Conference Following Anti-Muslim Incitement Controversy in New York City Involving Council Member Inna Vernikov and the San Diego Mosque Terror Attack.

(BROOKLYN, NY, 05/20/26) — On Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 10am, Muslim, Jewish and allied community leaders will gather at Brooklyn Borough Hall to demand accountability, reaffirm interfaith solidarity, and call for equal protection for all New Yorkers following recent anti-Muslim rhetoric amplified by New York City Council Member Inna Vernikov.

The press conference comes days after a deadly terrorist attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego left three Muslim men dead in an attack being investigated as a hate crime.

WHO:
Muslim, Jewish and allied faith and civic leaders

WHAT:
Emergency press conference on hate, accountability, and interfaith solidarity

WHEN:
Thursday, May 21, 2026
10:00 AM

WHERE:
Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Mohamed Salem / Secretary, OneNYC / mohamed@onenyc.com / 646-685-6421

CAIR-NY Communications / comms@ny.cair.com / 917-669-4006

 Leaders will address the growing climate of anti-Muslim hostility and aims to establish hate as a vicious cycle, which puts all New Yorkers in harm.  “Accountability is a core driver of safety, for all humanity” stated Dr. Abdusalam Musa, Board of Directors, Shuraa Council of New York and Association of African, and Chairman of OneNYC Faith Leadership Council. In an open letter in solidarity with the San Diego Mosque attack, Arman Chowdury, Executive Director, MUNA National, shared “Elected officials who inflame religious fear, create division and breed hatred cannot credibly serve in positions responsible for combating Antisemitism and protecting the public safety of New Yorkers”.

The coalition will call for accountability and highlight the prior public commitment by New York City Council leadership, including Council Member Julie Menin, that repeated inflammatory conduct by Council Member Vernikov would warrant removal from the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat Antisemitism.

The controversy stems from public posts by Council Member Vernikov portraying Muslim men performing Friday prayer outside Al Madina Mosque in Brooklyn as suspicious and threatening, insinuating vile behavior during the most sacred day, Friday, at weekly prayer (Jumaa), despite subsequent public statements from Yeshiva leadership confirming there had been no incident or conflict between the neighboring communities.

Organizers say the issue is larger than one elected official and reflects broader questions relating to equal standards of solidarity, dignity, protection, and accountability against all forms of hate — whether directed at their own communities or others.