Councilmember Lander Condemns Hate Crime in Kensington
Vigil tonight at site of Muslim-owned business
targeted with Anti-Muslim Vandalism this past weekend
Councilmember Brad Lander had the following statement in response to Islamophobic graffiti at a small business owned by a member of Kensington’s growing Bangladeshi community:
"Hate has no place in our community. Kensington is one of Brooklyn’s most diverse and vibrant neighborhoods – with strong Jewish, Christian, and Muslim populations, with long-time and newer residents, including immigrants from Bangladesh and Latin America. We celebrate this community’s vitality and cross-cultural exchange.
“We will respond vigorously to bigotry targeting any group. Recently, Brooklyn has seen multiple anti-Semitic crimes – and the community has responded with appropriate outrage. Now, in the face of this Islamophobic attack on a member of Kensington’s Bangladeshi community, we must unite again.
“The Kensington community will not allow this space to be tarnished by bigotry. In fact, we are exploring making this very space – an expanded sidewalk area in front of several stores at the intersection of Beverly Road and Church Avenue – into a new mini-plaza. This new community space would be created by and for the neighborhood’s diverse communities.
“Tonight we will gather at the site to resist hate and celebrate the diversity of Kensington. We invite the community of Kensington, the community of Brooklyn, and the community of New York to join us.”
WHO: Councilmemeber Brad Lander, diverse community leaders, religious leaders, neighbors
WHAT: Vigil at the site of Islamophobic vandalism
WHERE: Church Avenue and Beverley Road, Brooklyn
WHEN: 6:00 – 7:00 PM, February 8th, 2012