On Thursday, December 16, 2021, the Long Island Advocates for Police Accountability (LIAFPA) and its allies representing Black, Brown, Asian, disabled, LGBTQ+ and faith-based organizations on Long Island will hold a Press Event and Rally at 11:00 A.M. at the Centerport United Methodist Church, 97 Little Neck Road, Centerport, NY, 11721 to denounce recent hate, bigotry and bias which has been marked by crimes and violent acts on Long Island. At the Press Event and Rally, we anticipate that community learders, religious leaders, and a bipartisan group of elected officials from both Nassau and Suffolk Counties will sign on to The People’s Public Proclamation Against Hate and commit to the message that “Hate has no place here!” in both word and deed.

The People’s Proclamation Against Hate will bring together a wide range of community leaders, religious leaders, and elected officials from diverse backgrounds, belief systems, life experiences and political parties to agree upon a baseline set of values to combat the rise of bias events, crimes and violence stemming from hatred, prejudice, racism and bigotry. The uptick in recent acts of bigotry and hate crimes, as well as incidents that are intended to separate us all is simply undeniable and has been widely covered in local media outlets, including Newsday. Recently, we have witnessed:

● On November 28, 2021, the so-called “Proud Boys”, an organization designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Centre and an extremist group with ties to white nationalists by the FBI, marched through Rockville Centre flashing white power hand signals and Nazi salutes.

● In December 2021, Robert Fehring of Bayport was arrested for sending over 60 letters to LGBTQ+ individuals, organizations, and leaders threatening violence against community members that would make the 2016 Orlando Pulse Nightclub attack “look like a cakewalk” in comparison. He compared gay men to animals.

● In November 2021, Andrew Niemir of Floral Park was arrested for defacing a Muslim-owned shop with derogatory graffiti.

● In November 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation banning the display of hate symbols on public property after confederate flags were discovered at Brookhaven and Levittown Fire Departments.

● In November 2021, a noose was discovered at a work site in Hewlett shared by PSEG Long Island and National Grid. This is the second noose discovered at a PSEG facility.

● In October 2021, a noose was found at a Babylon Town senior center.

● In October 2021, Christopher Cella of Suffolk County confessed to luring Hispanic workers into his vehicle and beating them because he “hated illegal Spanish people.”

● In October 2021, an actor at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport was called the N-word in between shows.

● In September 2021, a swastika and other racist graffiti was discovered on a Mount Sinai street.

● In August 2021, Masjid Faizan-e-Aisha, a Hicksville Mosque, was vandalized by an assailant dumping garbage and human feces on the premises.

● In August 2021, Hunter McElrath of Nassau County ransacked Jewish houses of worship in Long Beach.

● In August 2021, a swastika was found etched into Northport playground equipment.

● On April 20, 2021in the early morning hours Mr. Kyrin Taylor came into the tool room of his employer Cooper Power & Lighting, 39 Central Avenue, Farmingdale, New York, he was shocked to see a nose, placed by his co-workers, hanging in the area which he must frequent on a daily basis. https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/27/us/long-island-noose-black-electrician/index.html

A draft of the People’s Public Proclamation Against Hate is forthcoming. Co-Sponsoring and participating individuals, Churches and organizations should contact Fred Brewington or Tracey Edwards for more information.