PORT CHESTER – Given the number of bomb scares called in to Jewish community centers in the last few weeks, State Senator George Latimer (D, 37) is introducing legislation that would classify those offenses as hate crimes.
At present, crimes of that type that are made against houses of worship of all faiths are considered hate crimes, but those made against community centers with religious affiliation are not and the senator wants to close that loophole.
“These are not jokes; these are not things to take trivially,” Latimer said. “These are intimidating actions and they need to be treated with a higher degree of penalty for conviction.”
Latimer’s proposal would increase the hate crime penalties against community centers of all faiths to felonies.
