SWC Statement on Release of Accused Vandal Suspect in Attacks on NY Synagogues, Jewish Institutions

May 3, 2021

New York – In response to the news of a Bronx judge ordering the release of a suspect accused of multiple vandalizations of Riverdale synagogues and other Jewish institutions, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action for global Jewish human rights organization, Simon Wiesenthal Center issued the following statement:

“Change the no bail laws or New York may become the next Paris! New York must not allow hate mongers to attack Houses of Worship with impunity. Twenty years ago, we witnessed similar scenarios occur in France, where judges refused to hold those who vandalized synagogues accountable. That soon escalated to fire-bombings violence and even murder,” charged Rabbi Cooper.

"NYPD did its job and arrested the perpetrator of multiple hate crimes, only to see him released by a judge. Criminals, including anti-Semites will act with increasing impunity putting all in danger, unless the laws treat every hate crime seriously," Cooper concluded.

For further information contact the Center’s Communications department at pressinquiries@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).