NEW YORK, NY — New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Yusef Salaam, Chair of the Committee to Combat Hate, convened a powerful interfaith rally at City Hall on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 — bringing together elected officials, faith leaders, educators, and advocates from across the five boroughs ahead of a Council hearing on a package of seven bills aimed at confronting antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Christian hate, and all forms of religious discrimination. The rally sent an unambiguous message: hate has no place in New York City, and every New Yorker must be free to worship and learn without fear.
✡ Jewish
☪ Muslim
✝ Christian
🕉 Hindu
☬ Sikh
And All Faiths
“Today we stood together — Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and leaders of many faiths — united in the belief that hate has no place in New York City.”
The legislative package is part of Speaker Menin’s Five-Point Plan to Combat Antisemitism and represents a broader commitment to confronting hate in all its forms while upholding constitutional rights. The hearing drew testimony from administration officials, civil rights advocates, faith leaders, and members of the public — with the Anti-Defamation League, JCRC-NY, UJA-Federation, Catholic leaders, an Imam, and community organisations all lending their voices to the effort.
“Every New Yorker should feel safe entering their house of worship or their school. This legislative package strengthens transparency, improves coordination, and ensures safe access while fully safeguarding First Amendment rights.”
— Speaker Julie Menin, New York City Council
The Hate Crime Context
Recent Incidents That Prompted Legislative Action
- Anti-religious graffiti spray-painted at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Harlem
- Hateful anti-Black racist comments made during a recent CEC3 community meeting
- Anti-Muslim attacks in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
- Antisemitic vandalism at Gravesend Park, Brooklyn
- Protests targeting Park East Synagogue and a yeshiva in Kew Gardens Hills
- More than 550 reported faith-based hate crimes recorded across New York City in 2024
The hearing comes amid a continued and deeply troubling rise in antisemitic incidents and other hate crimes across the city and the nation. At JCRC-NY’s 50th anniversary Congressional Breakfast, 95-year-old Holocaust survivor Rabbi Arthur Schneier of Park East Synagogue gave what was described as a sobering account of what his community has experienced — imploring policymakers to act before another generation is left to feel unsafe because of their faith.
The Legislative Package
Int. 1-A
Requires the NYPD to develop and publish a response plan for when there are credible concerns of injury, intimidation, or restriction of movement that prevent access to houses of worship. Does not create new crimes or criminalise protest activity in any way.
Int. 22
Requires the Department of Education to distribute materials to students about the risks of social media and online hate.
Int. 165
Requires the NYPD to report on the status of hate crime cases to improve transparency and accountability — so communities know what happened and what is being done in response.
Int. 175-A
Requires the NYPD to develop and publish a response plan for when there are credible concerns of injury, intimidation, or restriction of movement that prevent access to schools.
Int. 297
Would require emergency planning for religious institutions, strengthening coordination and preparedness across faith communities.
Int. 327
Would reimburse nonpublic schools for the cost of video surveillance cameras, making security more accessible to faith-based educational institutions.
Int. 388
Would establish a dedicated hotline and detailed reporting system for antisemitism and other hate- and bias-related incidents across the city.
Voices from the Rally
Statement
Council Member Yusef Salaam
Chair, Committee to Combat Hate · New York City Council
“Today, we stand united to ensure that New York City remains a place where all people feel included, safe, and valued. The recent rise in hate crimes reminds us that the work is far from over. We emphasize the need to ensure that every community, regardless of race, religion, gender, or identity, is protected and that no form of hate is ever tolerated in our city.”
Statement
New York Attorney General Letitia James
Attorney General, State of New York
“Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe and respected in their place of worship and their neighborhood. Our strength comes from our diversity, and we will never allow fear or prejudice to divide us. My office will continue to protect the rights and dignity of New Yorkers and take action whenever hate or bias threatens them.”
Statement
Imam Maaz Ali
Iqra Masjid, New York City
“Our masjids, like all places of worship, should be spaces of peace, prayer, safety, and a place where people can come together as a community to strengthen their connection with one another and God Almighty. Protecting one community ultimately protects us all. We stand united against Islamophobia, and every form of hate, and we are committed to working together to ensure that every New Yorker can practice their faith freely and safely.”
Statement
Reverend A. R. Bernard
Christian Cultural Center, New York City
“The freedom to gather for worship without fear is fundamental to New York’s diverse civic life. Yet rising incidents of religious harassment and intimidation, including more than 550 reported faith-based hate crimes in 2024, remind us that religious liberty requires practical protections. Houses of worship must remain places of peace, not fear.”
Statement
Mark Treyger
CEO, JCRC-NY
“The incidents at Park East Synagogue and in Kew Gardens Hills made clear that protests targeting people at their houses of worship cross a red line — threatening public safety and the fundamental right of New Yorkers to practice their faith and return home safely. This legislation is not about limiting free speech or peaceful protest; it is about enforcing the rights of New Yorkers to enter and leave their houses of worship free from hate, intimidation, harassment, and physical violence.”
Statement
Scott Richman
ADL Regional Director, New York & New Jersey
“ADL has documented unprecedented numbers of antisemitic incidents across New York City. This threat to religious freedom and safety is a widespread issue necessitating legislative intervention. We are grateful to Speaker Menin not only for sponsoring legislation to keep houses of worship safe and accessible, but also for her entire five-point plan to combat antisemitism. It is a critical first step to keep Jews — and all New Yorkers — safe.”
Statement
Mohammad Razvi
Executive Director, Council of Peoples Organization
“What our communities are experiencing is not fear — it is hate, exclusion, and discrimination. We must have the courage to name it clearly, confront it directly, and reject the normalization of bias in any form. Justice and safety cannot be selective; they must protect the dignity, rights, and humanity of every New Yorker.”
“We can confront antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, anti-Christian hatred, and every form of bias while fully upholding constitutional rights.”
— Council Member Eric Dinowitz, Chair, NYC Council Jewish Caucus
As with all legislation, the bills will proceed through the Council’s formal legislative process. The Committee to Combat Hate will continue to hear testimony from administration officials, civil rights advocates, faith leaders, and members of the public. The Council will work alongside the Law Department, the NYPD, and the Mayor’s Office as the proposals advance — with a commitment to striking the necessary balance between constitutional protections and the safety of every faith community in New York.
NYC Council
Source: Official press release — New York City Council, Office of the Speaker. Speaker Menin and Council Member Salaam Hold Interfaith Rally to Combat Hate and Protect Safe Access to Houses of Worship and Schools. February 25, 2026.
