Tearing down pro-Israel flyers would become a crime in NY under GOP proposal to combat antisemitism

Carl Campanile, Vaughn Golden
·2 min read
(L) Grab from New York State Senate Republicans Facebook page, (R) People take part in a pro-Palestine protest to mark International Woman's Day in Manhattan, New York. 08 March 2024.
(L) Grab from New York State Senate Republicans Facebook page, (R) People take part in a pro-Palestine protest to mark International Woman's Day in Manhattan, New York. 08 March 2024.

Tearing down pro-Israel posters and flyers would become a misdemeanor under a package of laws proposed by state Senate Republicans in response to a wave of antisemitism.

The laws unveiled Wednesday would also prohibit the removal pro-Jewish flyers and posters, a common scene in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks in October and ensuing war in Gaza.

“New York is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, and it is incumbent upon us to take action to ensure nobody is ever made to feel unsafe because of their religion,” Senate Republican Minority leader Robert Ortt said at a news conference.

Republicans in the state Senate unveiled a legislative package Wednesday to crack down on antisemitism, calling the fight against Jew hatred the civil rights issue of the 21st century. Facebook
Republicans in the state Senate unveiled a legislative package Wednesday to crack down on antisemitism, calling the fight against Jew hatred the civil rights issue of the 21st century. Facebook

The slew of bills would also define “antisemitism” under the state Human Rights Law and make it easier to prosecute antisemitic acts such as incitement of violence or vandalism as a hate crime.

Other efforts would:

  • Block state tuition assistance if they are found to be engaging in anti-Jewish harassment;

  • Require SUNY and CUNY campuses to implement antisemitism awareness and prevention sensitivity training, or face the threat of losing state funding;

  • Expand the crime of harassing conduct to include Nazi symbols.

Ortt, during an Albany press conference, challenged Democrats to support the measures.

He alluded to the US Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu to be replaced and blasted some leftist Democrats “who’ve stood with Hamas” and abandoned the Israel.

The Senate GOP put together a working group to address antisemitism in March of last year, months before Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

The slew of bills would also define “antisemitism” under the state Human Rights Law and make it easier to prosecute antisemitic acts such as incitement of violence or vandalism as a hate crime. Adam Gray for the New York Post
The slew of bills would also define “antisemitism” under the state Human Rights Law and make it easier to prosecute antisemitic acts such as incitement of violence or vandalism as a hate crime. Adam Gray for the New York Post

But antisemitism has grown more rampant since the attacks and ensuing conflict, the senators said the press conference.

“It’s mind-boggling,” said Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (R-Valley Stream).

“I thought there would be more sympathy for our brothers and sisters of Jewish descent. [Antisemitism] has only escalated.”

Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola), who chaired the working group, said the debate over the war should not be used to “mistreat Jews in New York.”

“It’s time for New York to restore its mantle as the center for tolerance in the United States,” Martins said.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins (D-Yonkers) had no immediate comment to the GOP package.