Brooklyn, NY – Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman today condemned the recent racist comments made by a tenured professor at Hunter College and called for decisive institutional action, while announcing new legislation to address racism in public workplaces across New York State.

“Racism has no place in our schools or our communities. Educators carry a profound responsibility to create learning environments where every student feels safe, respected, and valued. Comments like these are unacceptable and erode both the integrity of the classroom and the trust of students and families.”

“As a Silver Life Member of the NAACP and a member of multiple racial justice organizations, I have personally fought racism my entire life, and organizationally for more than three decades. I am incensed that in 2026, after generations of struggle, our hard-earned tax dollars are still used to pay the salary of individuals who promote racist ideology and cause immeasurable harm.”

“Bigotry is intolerable – but racism goes further. Racism terrorizes and retraumatizes people who already carry the weight of historical and present-day injustice. From institutions downplaying acts of racial violence, to national leaders erasing or demagoguing Black people, to educators feeling emboldened to question the intellect and humanity of Black students – these incidents are not isolated. They are part of a continuum that stretches from enslavement, through Jim Crow and Jane Crow, through the backlash to Black progress, and into the present day.”

“We must not allow this moment to pass as simply another controversy. Racism persists in American culture because it is too often denied, minimized, or excused. If we are serious about eradicating it, we must confront it directly and act systemically.”

“That is why today I am announcing legislation that will require every public institution in New York State to include, as part of their hiring process, a formal affirmation that employees understand their legal and professional obligation to maintain workplaces free from unlawful discrimination, including racism, and that violations will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.”

“The Constitution protects free speech. It does not protect unlawful discrimination, harassment, or the violation of civil rights.”

“I call on Hunter College and the City University of New York to act swiftly and transparently. Educators who cannot uphold the dignity of their students cannot be entrusted with their education.”

“As we mark the 250th year of this nation’s founding, we must reaffirm that education is a pathway to opportunity – never a space for bias, humiliation, or harm.”

For media inquiries, please contact:

Amber Stephens
stephensa@nyassembly.gov
(718) 399-7630

— Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman