ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--IN RESPONSE TO A RISE IN HATE AND BIAS INCIDENTS, GOV. KATHY HOCHUL IS DEPLOYING ADDITIONAL STAFF TO A JOINT FBI TERRORISM TASK FORCE, AND INVESTING $2.5 MILLION TO DEPLOY ADDITIONAL STATE POLICE INVESTIGaTORS. 

THE NYPD HATE CRIME TASK FORCE REPORTS A 124 PERCENT INCREASE IN HATE AND BIAS INCIDENTS IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. 

“We have determined that the rising level of hate and antisemitism in particular poses a clear and present danger to the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers. And I, as governor, am doing everything in my power to fight back,” said Hochul. 

SOME ADVOCATES SAid THE GOVERNOR’S EFFORTS COULD DO THE OPPOSITE—MAKING SOME COMMUNITIES FEEL TARGETED.  

“They are targeting dissent right now, and there are a lot of costs to speaking out for Palestinian human rights and this just shows that one of them is increased attention from police,” said Sumayyah Waheed, senior policy counsel at Muslim Advocates.

WAHEED SAID THERE IS MORE STATE LEADERS AND LAWMAKERS CAN DO TO COMBAT RISING HATE AND BIAS.  

“Our leaders would do much more to counteract hate by actually lifting up the humanity of people in our communities,” she said.