Safety & Security

Governor Cuomo: This Is What New Yorkers Do - We Turn Hate Into Love

Feb. 6, 2017

A passenger aboard a northbound B Train recently observed a swastika drawn in green marker in the center of a United States flag affixed to one of the passenger cars.

A passenger aboard a northbound B Train recently observed a swastika drawn in green marker in the center of a United States flag affixed to one of the passenger cars. The swastika was then boxed out in a black marker and altered with the letters "L-O-V-E.” Due to the nature of the graffiti, this incident has been deemed possibly bias in nature and is being investigated as such.

Governor Cuomo said: "This is what New Yorker's do — we turn hate into love. That is our message to the nation and to the world. And we won't back down. Not now, not ever."

The New York Promise: Combat Hate Crimes and Encourage Tolerance

As part of the 2017 New York Promise Agenda, the Governor will launch of a statewide Hate Crimes Task Force charged with investigating and deterring incidents of bias and discrimination.

The Task Force includes members from New York State Police and the New York State Division of Human Rights, who will investigate hate crimes and conduct community outreach to educate New Yorkers of their rights. In addition, the Governor announced the formation of a new Interfaith Advisory Council, led by Cardinal Dolan, to help achieve a greater understanding and tolerance of all religions and cultures, promote open-mindedness and inclusivity, and bolster the state’s efforts to protect all New Yorkers.