Suffolk Reporter

The Assembly Minority Members of the New York State Assembly Education Committee have released a statement on November 28, 2023, addressing the recent incidents of violence and antisemitism at Hillcrest High School in Queens. In their statement, they emphasized the need for immediate and unwavering attention to the situation, stating, "The recent incidents of violence and antisemitism at Hillcrest High School in Queens demand immediate and steadfast attention."

The members expressed their concern for the safety of students and the community, calling for swift and significant action to prevent such acts from happening again, asserting, "New Yorkers deserve swift, significant action to remedy this situation to ensure these reprehensible acts are never repeated."

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the committee members condemned the presence of hatred and radical beliefs in public schools, stating, "There is no place for hatred or division in our public schools...signaling the infection of radical beliefs that must be stopped from spreading into our school system."

They called on all officials to uphold higher values and ensure the safety of students, stating, "As leaders and role models, all officials have a duty to instill higher values in students and safeguard communities - especially in times of crisis."

Demanding immediate reform and transparency, the committee members stressed the urgency of addressing the incidents at Hillcrest High School to prevent similar occurrences in other schools, stating, "The events in Queens last week were wholly unacceptable and threaten to poison other schools if left unaddressed."

In conclusion, the Assembly Minority Members of the New York State Assembly Education Committee urged for concrete actions, stating, "The time for mere dialogue is over. Real action against those responsible for last week’s incidents and bold reforms to eliminate hatred and ensure student security are required." They also warned of potential consequences for the city's inaction, stating, "The city’s failure to do so may warrant a revocation of Mayoral Control and appointment of a state monitor to achieve substantial improvements to keep our children, faculty, and staff safe in their schools."