All Americans, especially New Yorkers should be proud of our nation’s diversity and share a commitment to tolerance and respect for our fellow citizens, no matter their race, religion and ethnicity.

It is incumbent upon all of us to reduce hate violence and bias-motivated incidents. They have a reverberating effect striking fear not only in the individual victim, but also in the broader community. These incidents further splinter and segregate our communities by eroding the diverse fabric of our everyday life. I will continue to work with community advocates, leaders and authorities on addressing this troubling spike. Again, an act of hate toward one, is an act of hate towards all.