New York Governor Kathy Hochul will deploy ten more state investigators to the FBI’s counterterrorism task force and pump in another $2.5M to combat 214 PERCENT spike in anti-Semitism since October 7 Hamas terror attacks

New York Governor Kathy Hochul will add 10 additional state investigators to the FBI’s counterterrorism task force in New York to combat the staggering 214 percent spike in anti-Semitism since the October 7 Hamas terror attacks.

Hochul announced Monday that an additional $2.5 million will be provided to the New York State Police to expand the workforce of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).

Eight investigators will be stationed in the JTTF office in New York City and one investigator in their Offices in Albany and Rochester. The governor’s office said there were about 30 state law enforcement officers working with the task force before the additional investigators were added. The New York Daily News reported.

The move is the governor’s latest effort to address the rise in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents. Hochul said an emergency meeting was held with Jewish leaders and law enforcement officials to discuss strategies.

“It is painful for me as governor of this great state known for its diversity and the way we celebrate different cultures, different religions and different points of view.

“It is painful to see the cruelty with which New Yorkers treat each other everywhere, from college campuses to our streets, from schools to playgrounds, even as they enter their houses of worship,” she said.

The governor spoke about the recent incidents that have occurred, including the mob of hundreds that stormed the Grand Central Terminal on Friday calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, resulting in more than 300 arrests.

As the busiest travel day of the year, Thanksgiving, approaches, the governor said law enforcement will be on hand to ensure commuters can live their lives “freely and without disruption.”

‘The day Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and the rise in hate crimes began immediately. “I immediately deployed the state police to be on high alert to protect vulnerable assets,” the governor said.

These vulnerable assets also include the city’s synagogues, yeshivas and mosques, and any other place that could be prone to hate crimes or violence.

The governor’s office said they have also been in contact with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to share information about possible threats.

During her speech, she announced a significant increase in funding for their efforts, including a total of $75 million; $50 million will go to local law enforcement and $25 million in security grants.

She expressed her gratitude to state and local law enforcement officials who protected citizens during this unprecedented time.

“The state police have been there and are embedded in local law enforcement. I saw it with my own eyes.’

She continued, “I visit different places of worship and whether it’s here in New York City, it’s happening and I’m grateful for their efforts.”

The governor also spoke about the efforts being made to collect data coming from surveillance and social media to counter some of the negativity and hate speech circulating on online platforms.

As the governor spoke about her initiatives and shared her support, many are witnessing firsthand the anti-Semitism and hate that has affected some businesses, schools and communities on Long Island and New York City.

In August, Nassau County police said swastikas were spray-painted on the playground at Chatterton Elementary School in Merrick. Two teenagers were arrested and are now facing charges. News 12 reported.

Last month, a group of Jewish students at Cooper Union were forced to barricade themselves in the campus library as pro-Hamas protesters tried to bang on the door while shouting at them.

The incident occurred during a pro-Israel and pro-Palestine situation happening simultaneously. Additional demonstrations were held at New York University and Columbia, where many protested the boycott of Israel and called for a ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. The times of Israel reported.

At Cornell University, a 21-year-old Cornell student was accused of threatening to shoot up the site of his school’s Center for Jewish Living.

In Montauk, Naturally Good Food and Café had swastikas, the symbol of hatred against Jews, spray-painted on the establishment’s door and picnic tables.

There were also the words “Jews dying” written in German and scrawled on a fence, and some swastikas dotted food trucks. A popular surfing spot in Montauk, Ditch Plains Beach, had the words “Free Palestine” written next to it, the news channel reported.

Police are still investigating the hate crimes.

Rabbi Josh Franklin of the Jewish Center of the Hamptons wrote on Facebook. “I spent the morning in Montauk cleaning up the graffiti left on a Jewish-owned store in Montauk,” he said.

He added: “I feel like I’m living Kristallnacht in 2023.”

Owner Jane Hegelman Freeman shared her despair on Instagram.

“This is obviously good in Montauk. ‘The End’ as we say. Our house. The store of our dear friends. A small town in the USA. People live here to fish, surf and feel safe. I suppose I knew it before, but it’s confirmed: hatred, ignorance and anti-Semitism are alive and well in The End. WTF America? @naturallygoodmtk.’

During the speech, the governor spoke about those living in fear and wanted to reassure them that they have the right to feel safe and protected.

She said in part, “No one walking down the street or on the subway should feel like they have to hide their religious beliefs.”

A hotline has been set up for people to report hate and bias incidents, as the governor warned, “when they cross the line from hate speech to a hate crime, there will be prosecutions.”

She also spoke about the alarming levels of anti-Semitism taking place on college campuses, especially in the Jewish community, and on students who are targeted.

“I’ve never seen anything like that in my life,” she said in part, referring to what she saw at Cornell. She added that the perpetrator is now behind bars.

“We will ensure that all perpetrators of these crimes, making threats, inciting violence and calling on others to kill other perpetrators of Jewish students, are apprehended and prosecuted.”

She added: “These are young people who are vulnerable. They shouldn’t have to live in fear here in New York City.

With the staggering 214 percent rise in anti-Semitism, Hochul said, “We haven’t seen this level of hate crimes and fear since September 12, 2001.”

“People are concerned that they are concerned and today I am continuing to take every step possible to increase the safety of our individuals, our New York State Community members.”

Hochul said the perpetrators of the 911 attacks came to the city across a border from Canada through Western New York to cause damage. She said: ‘We have to be vigilant. We must protect ourselves against that scenario so that this can never happen again.’

‘If If anyone thinks they can get away with spreading hate, harming other New Yorkers and breaking the law, you will be arrested.”

Judaism is the second largest religion practiced in New York City and is home to approximately 1.6 million Jews.

New York City also represents the largest religious Jewish community of any city in the world, larger than the combined totals of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. And nearly half of the city’s Jews live in Brooklyn, according to a report.