Senator Carlucci Introduces Bill Making Anti-Semitic Graffiti a Hate Crime

From The Office of Senator David Carlucci: After anti-Semitic graffiti was found in several Rockland County communities, Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) introduced legislation that would make the perpetrators guilty of a felony hate crime instead of a misdemeanor, as the law currently exists. Carlucci's bill adds this criminal offense to the hate crime statute and would elevate the penalty by one degree, to a class E felony, when graffiti is made that targets a person's race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person.

"Hate crimes were up 31% in 2016 compared to the previous year and there has to be a deterrent to reduce an ugly trend," stated Senator Carlucci. "We will not tolerate those kinds of displays in this community and will come together to fight back against hate and discrimination. The state must remain vigilant in deterring such conduct and have zero tolerance for such offenses, including graffiti that targets a person because of their identity."

Under current law, a person commits a hate crime when he or she intentionally commits the act because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person. Specified offenses that may currently constitute a hate crime include assault, menacing, strangulation, manslaughter, stalking, criminal sexual act, criminal sexual abuse, kidnapping, criminal mischief, arson, grand larceny, robbery, and aggravated harassment.

However, making graffiti, such as a swastika sign on a person's property, is not currently a specified hate crime offense and would be with passage of Carlucci's bill.

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