The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the reported hate-motivated attack on a family in the Town of Ulster, during which a Lake Katrine man allegedly threatened them with a metal fork while yelling racial or ethnic slurs.
According to media reports, the 43-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with second-degree menacing as a hate crime, as well as aggravated threat of mass harm and criminal possession of a weapon, after allegedly targeting the family based on their perceived ethnicity. Police reported that the incident took place on November 22 and that the victims feared for their safety during the confrontation.
SEE: Lake Katrine man charged with hate crime, town of Ulster police say
SEE: 43-Year-Old Who Threatened Family With Fork Charged With Hate Crime: Police
In a statement, Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, said:
“An attack on a family because of who they are is an attack on the safety of every New Yorker. Hate-motivated violence is not only immoral: it undermines the shared values that hold our communities together. We stand with the victims and urge a full investigation and prosecution to ensure accountability. Incidents like this do not happen in isolation. They grow in environments where hate is normalized or excused.”
CAIR-NY calls on local officials, law enforcement leaders, and community institutions to reaffirm a zero-tolerance stance against hate crimes and to invest in prevention strategies that include education, public awareness, and timely intervention.
CAIR-NY urged community members to report any bias-motivated incidents to local law enforcement and to civil rights organizations.
END
CONTACT:
Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, CAIR-NY, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com;
CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com