All nine Bronx City Councilmembers voted last week to pass a resolution to make April 29 “End Jew Hatred Day,” but it didn’t come without controversy — six progressive Brooklyn electeds didn’t give the motion the green light.
The legislation was put forth by Brooklyn District 48 representative Inna Vernikov, a Republican, and co-sponsored by 13 other councilmembers — including Eric Dinowitz, a Jewish Democrat who also serves as the chair of the New York City Council Jewish Caucus.
Vernikov expressed her disappointment for her six colleagues who chose not to vote yay on her resolution, which recognizes “April 29 as End Jew Hatred Day annually in the City of New York,” according to the council notes. Brooklyn councilmembers Alexa Avilés, Charles Barron, Jennifer Gutiérrez and Rita Joseph — who later expressed her regret — abstained from the vote. Brooklyn District 39 councilmember Shahana Hanif and Brooklyn District 37 representative Sandy Nurse voted no. The lawmakers are all part of the City Council’s Progressive Caucus.
“A disturbing nationwide trend of antisemitic hate crimes has engulfed our city,” Vernikov said in the council chambers last Thursday. “I thank … all my colleagues for the bipartisan support this resolution has received, but it’s also astounding to see the councilmembers who clearly do not want to end Jew hatred. Your antisemitism is showing.”
Vernikov said she was a Jewish refugee whose family was “impacted by the atrocities of the Holocaust.”
As I mentioned the atrocities of the Holocaust on the chamber floor today, while asking for support of my resolution to #End Jew Hatred, it was sickening to listen to NO votes & Abstentions. Even as I referenced our grandparents being sent to concentration camps and gas chambers.
— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) April 27, 2023
Dinowitz — who represents the Bronx sections of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Norwood, Van Cortlandt…
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