There is a protest planned today in our Assembly District, outside of Park East Synagogue, at 6:30pm. They are protesting a group that has rented space from Park East; it is not an official Park East Synagogue event. Nevertheless, this naturally conjures painful memories of when people have been harassed while entering houses of worship.

Just this past November, protesters mere feet from the entrance to Park East Synagogue shouted phrases including, “We don’t want no two states, we want ’48.” In the aftermath, I joined with thousands of New Yorkers outside that very shul to stand against antisemitism.

We can and must be a City that both protects the right to protest and ensures that everyone can traverse our streets in safety, free from intimidation and hate. I believe in our ability to do both.

My team and I are in active communication with both Park East Synagogue and the NYPD and will remain so throughout the day.