On the heels of the Monsey machete attack, four Jewish lawmakers on Sunday demanded the governor call a state of emergency and take current hate-crimes cases out of the hands of local district attorneys and turn them over to a special prosecutor.
“Orthodox Jews are being regularly assaulted, menaced, stabbed and murdered in increasing numbers,” reads the letter — signed by city councilmen Chaim Deutsch and Kalman Yeger, as well as state Sen. Simcha Felder and Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein — sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday.
“Simply stated, it is no longer safe to be identifiable Orthodox in the State of New York. We cannot shop, walk down a street, send our children to school, or even worship in peace.”
The letter comes a day after five people were stabbed during a Hanukkah celebration in upstate Monsey.
Grafton Thomas, 37, was charged in the attack, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo called Sunday “an act of terrorism” during a press conference.
In a statement Sunday denouncing the anti-Semitic hate attack, the governor ordered the State Police to up patrols in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods across New York State.
But the lawmakers are calling for the National Guard and to also be deployed “to visibly patrol and protect Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods.”
The lawmakers are also asking the governor to appoint a special prosecutor to step in to investigate and prosecute current and future anti-Semitic cases.
“With respect to the local DAs, what they are doing isn’t helping,” Deutsch told The Post, referring to state bail reforms that have allowed the release of suspects arrested in recent anti-Semitic attacks — including Tiffany Harris, who is accused of shouting “F-U, Jews!” as she assaulted three Orthodox women in Brooklyn last week.
“When anti-Semitic attackers are released just hours after they are arrested, it sends a message that New York City doesn’t take hate crimes seriously. With no visible consequences, what’s preventing others from attacking us?”
Grafton was ordered held on $5 million bail at arraignment Sunday.