North Hempstead hosts ‘Not in Our Town’ forum

Janelle Clausen

The Town of North Hempstead and Holocaust Memorial Tolerance Center of Nassau County hosted “Not in Our Town: A Unity and Anti-Hate Conference,” a forum featuring speakers from various communities explaining what they’re doing to counter hate and how to come together on Thursday.

Representatives from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office and Police Department were also present, answering residential concerns, what constitutes hate crimes, and the importance of reporting them.

It was both a pro-active and reactive response to hate crimes and unease within some communities.

“I will tell you the minute I heard the phrase ‘not in our town,’ I said ‘that’s it,’ not in our town, because we are determined that hate and bigotry and intolerance has no place in the Town of North Hempstead,” said Judi Bosworth, town supervisor of North Hempstead.

While Steven Markowitz, chair of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, said North Hempstead is not quite a “hotbed of hate crimes or incidents,” it has its “share of name-calling, bullying and swastikas.”

“We want to take a pro-active stand in trying to alert the community to the dangers of these kinds of incidents, their implications and what we can do as a community,” Markowitz said.

Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontiere, whose community was shaken by the hate-crime killing of immigrant Marcelo Lucero by seven teenagers in 2008, emphasized focusing on integration rather than dehumanizing immigrants.

“We know that we cannot resolve the immigration debate at the local level. The debate itself has created a sense that these people are expendable, and discriminatory behavior like ‘beaner-hopping’ is acceptable,” Pontiere said, referring to the practice of specifically hunting Latinos, “despite the reality that immigrants are interwoven into our communities in many ways.”

Dr. Isma Chaudhry, the president of the Islamic Center of L.I., said diversity should be seen as a strength. She also said that one must stand up to intolerance when they see it.

“We cannot stay silent, because silence is one of the worst forms of endorsement,” Chaudhry said.

It is part of the larger ‘Not in My Town’ movement that began in North Dakota, when a small town stood against Nazis preaching hate. The movement has since spread across the United States.

The town also filmed testimonials for a public service announcement and had people to write on a large “Not in Our Town” sign to be placed in front of town hall.

“The idea is to have it not be a one-night thing,” said Carole Trottere, spokeswoman for the Town of North Hempstead.

Saud Rehman, 25, a member of the Islamic Center of Long Island, said that while he personally has not experienced discrimination, members of his family have felt the pressure.

“We are living in a society where, you know, things are not really well right now,” Rehman, who immigrated here two years ago, said. “It’s very important within these kind of events we get together with other minorities and other communities.”

“So I want to take the lead and do something for my community and for my country as well,” he added.

Organizations present included the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, the Islamic Center of Long Island, the Long Island Council of Churches, the Hagedorn Foundation and the Long Island Transgender Advocacy Coalition. Members of each said that their doors are open for those who need help.

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