The mayor and governor visited a synagogue Monday to discuss a troubling rise in antisemitism.

Gov. Kathy Hochul also announced Monday a new task force that will deal with intolerance and hate.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Kathy Hochul says the Bias and Hatred Prevention Unit will be located within the Division of Human Rights

  • Each year, the Human Rights Division investigates more than 5,000 claims of discrimination

  • Hochul will also create a series of 10 regional councils to address intolerance

  • Hochul is expected to announce more details about her unity task force in her State of the State Address on Jan. 10

Hochul was at Lincoln Square Synagogue in Manhattan to announce the new bias and hatred protection unit within the state’s Human Rights Division.

The new unit will develop 10 regional councils throughout the state to combat hate, and there will be educational task forces in all 62 New York counties.

Each year, the Human Rights Division investigates more than 5,000 complaints of prejudice and bias.

“We can be in the prevention business as well,” Hochul said Monday. “By educating people as to what the signs are, this is going to be a task force that is going to go all over the state of New York and have meetings convened, and bring together stakeholders and trusted voices that can rise in with us.”

Security at synagogues is another issue.

This past year, the federal government provided $250 million in security grants to nonprofits and religious organizations. That is a 70% increase from the year before.

And this year, President Joe Biden and his administration have asked that to increase to $360 million.

“I did not spend 22 years of my life as a member of the New York City Police Department protecting the people of this city to surrender to those who believe hate is going to have a foothold in this city. It will not happen,” Mayor Eric Adams said Monday.

Hochul says part of standing up to antisemitism is preventing its normalization.

“In 2016, when it became a normalization and an association with people who spew this hate — that this country up until that time did not tolerate a public way,” Hochul said. “Well, we’ve lost some ground, my friends. But it is time to cede that ground back.”

Hochul is expected to announce more details about her unity task force in her State of the State Address on Jan. 10.