Governor Hochul: “No one should be afraid to walk from their dorm or their dining hall to a classroom. That is a basic right that every New Yorker has outside of campus, but particularly on a campus because these are young people who are in an environment that is intended to protect them as well…But they are a strong group of young people who deserve to have the support of an entire campus and indeed the entire state to help them get through these difficult times. And that's why I, as the Governor of the State of New York, came here today.”
Hochul: “We will not tolerate threats or hatred, or antisemitism, or any kind of hatred that makes people feel vulnerable and exposes people and makes them feel insecure in a place that they should be enjoying their campus life without fear that someone could cause them harm.”
Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul visited Cornell University’s Center for Jewish Life for a roundtable discussion with students addressing recent antisemitic threats made online. Following the roundtable, Governor Hochul updated New Yorkers on statewide efforts to combat hate and intolerance.
VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.
AUDIO of the event is available here.
PHOTOS of the event are available on the Governor's Flickr page.
A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:
Good morning. I'm joined here this morning by Cornell President Martha Pollack, and we're at the Center for Jewish Living, and I'm joined by the President and two very energetic young people who I had a chance to meet when I was here in August, when they thanked me for bringing resources to have more security here on campus to protect Jewish students, and that's Molly Goldstein and Jeremy Zarge. I'm also joined by our New York State Police Zone Commander Captain Mikhail Wolchetsky and Cornell Police Chief Anthony Bellamy, as well as students.
I just convened a conversation with a number of students here in the place that they consider their secure home, a place that has been subjected to threats on social media as recently as yesterday and the day before, and there's a great deal of anxiety here. And I came here in person with one strong message, that we will not tolerate threats or hatred, or antisemitism, or any kind of hatred that makes people feel vulnerable and exposes people and makes them feel insecure in a place that they should be enjoying their campus life without fear that someone could cause them harm.
I wanted to talk about this community here. I've been here so often. It's an inspiring place, and it's an opportunity for students to pull together and feel strength among each other. But also, opportunities for conversations and shared understanding. But I want them to know they're not alone, that they have the State of New York backing them. That's why we have our State Police here in presence. We'll be increasing our security opportunities as well.
No one should be afraid to walk from their dorm or their dining hall to a classroom. That is a basic right that every New Yorker has outside of campus, but particularly on a campus because these are young people who are in an environment that is intended to protect them as well, and their parents need to know this. So, after these hateful posts came out, we contacted State Police to assist law enforcement with the investigation. You also are aware that it's not just campus, local, state – but also the FBI has been involved, our President could address that.
But also, identifying who made the threats, and holding them accountable because you want to let people know if you're going to engage in these harmful actions, hate crimes, breaking our laws, you will be caught and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. That's the strong message I want to deliver here today. This community will start to heal. It's been horribly painful. They will come together because the terrorists, the people who are threatening them will get no refuge here. They will find that this community is made stronger and defiant and will resist any sense that they'll change their way of life because they've been threatened by people with such hate in their hearts.
State Police have ramped up security on college campuses since October 7th, and we're going to continue to do so. Our Intelligence Center has been beefing up its monitoring of social media as well.
Also, ensuring that we have the right of free speech, we'll always protect that. But when speech crosses over into hate speech and into hate crimes, that's when we have to make sure that students know that we'll step up and protect them. The conversation I had was powerful, students who are anxious, who are fearful, but they have a sense of community as well, and a sense that they will get through this. And I was really proud to hear that.
But they are a strong group of young people who deserve to have the support of an entire campus and indeed the entire state to help them get through these difficult times. And that's why I, as the Governor of the State of New York, came here today.
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