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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul plans to employ additional public safety measures a week ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that initiated the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, she announced in a Wednesday afternoon press conference.

Hochul said she directed New York State Police officials to increase officer presence at “at-risk areas” — such as synagogues, mosques, yeshivas and community centers — as a precautionary measure to prevent hate-motivated crimes against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities. She also said the precautions were in anticipation of the Jewish High Holy Days, which began Wednesday.

As of Oct. 2, the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and other local law enforcement agencies have not identified any active threats against these groups, she said.

“And while I know those events are happening on the other side of the globe, here in New York, we are the largest Jewish population outside of Israel and one of the largest Muslim and Arab populations in America,” Hochul said. “And so, these global events have a unique residence here with us.”

Hochul also said her decision to increase state security coincides with the increasing political turmoil throughout the Middle East — namely in Israel, Lebanon and Iran. On Tuesday night, seven people were killed in a suspected terrorist mass shooting and knife attack, which Hamas later claimed responsibility for. Shortly after, Iran fired a series of missile attacks toward Israel. Many say the conflict has now escalated into an all-out regional war.

The war also contributed to a rise in antisemitic and Islamaphobic hate incidents in the United States. Over the past five years, New York state has experienced a “surge” in hate-motivated crimes, according to an August 2024 report from the State Comptroller. Since 2018, crimes against Jewish and Muslim people in New York state rose by 89% and 106%, respectively.

Hochul also mentioned her goal to protect college students’ rights to worship on campuses amid the conflict. In the first three months following the initial Oct. 7 attack, the FBI saw a 60% jump in reported hate crime cases, The Hill reported.

“The other aspect is parents worried about their students on college campuses, especially throughout the year in light of last spring, but also during the High Holy holidays,” Hochul said. “Yes, students have a First Amendment right to protest. They also have a right to gather and celebrate the holidays without fear of harassment.”

The state’s decisions reflect similar measures local law enforcement agencies have taken to prevent religious and ethnicity-based hate, including Syracuse University’s Department of Public Safety. In the weeks following the Oct. 7 attack, DPS released a statement saying it would maintain an “elevated presence” on campus by hiring additional personnel and increasing coverage in specific areas.

At the start of the spring 2024 semester, a DPS representative told The Daily Orange it would maintain this heightened level of security. The department will also continue its “increased presence” on and around campus for the rest of the fall 2024 semester, a DPS spokesperson wrote in a Wednesday night statement sent to The D.O.

The release said New York has expanded its efforts to monitor potential threats on social media and increased the state’s presence on the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Published on October 3, 2024 at 12:38 am

Contact Julia: jmboehni@syr.edu