Dromm Condemns Anti-Latino, Anti-Gay Hate Crime

Statement from Daniel Dromm:

While I cannot attend the press conference scheduled by NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn at 12:30 PM today on the steps of City Hall because I am teaching in a NYC public school, I want to add my voice to other community leaders speaking out against this horrific hate crime.

It is particularly unfortunate that this family has to suffer this violent act of hate during the Holiday season. What is supposed to be a happy, family oriented time of year has been destroyed for this family.

When hate crimes are committed it is particularly important for all community members to speak out against them. The perpetrators are trying to send a message to the community that it is okay to hate. We need to stand up to that wrongful type of thinking and condemn the violence.

While this crime occurred in Brooklyn, the victim lays in Elmhurst Hospital struggling to hold on to his life. Queens has unfortunately suffered through this type of violence before when Julio Rivera, Steen Keith Fenrich and Edgar Garzon were brutally murdered by hate.

I call upon the NYC Department of Education to implement a curriculum that teaches tolerance of all of NYC's diverse populations. We need to educate our youth that hatred is wrong.

My prayers and thoughts go out to the victim and his family. I promise to pursue justice in this case.