Brooklyn, NY \u2013 Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Council Member Letitia James today denounced death threats that were recently mailed to Judge Diana Johnson and her family. They were joined by Council Member Bill de Blasio, Council Member Albert Vann, State Assemblyman Karim Camara, State Senator Eric Adams, Reverend Clarence Norman Sr., and other community leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very sad that hate and ignorance have once again been directed at Judge Johnson,\u201d said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. \u201cWe can never let such an act take root in our city. We must stand up every time and send the message that we will not stand for hate and the destruction that comes along with it, not in our city. I hope whoever is responsible for this action is brought to justice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis threatening incident cannot be taken lightly,\u201d said Council Member Letitia James. \u201cJudge Diana Johnson has been a victim of a threat once before, and this second time includes words of hate against her family. The priority of law enforcement will be protection, to investigate the crime and then utilize all possible resources. I urge anyone with information about this case to please come forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am disgusted to see that hatred and bigotry have reared their heads again in New York,\u201d said Council Member David Yassky. \u201cToday, New Yorkers must stand together to reject such hateful intimidation. We will say it as many times as it takes \u2013 hatred and bigotry will not be tolerated in this city.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis most recent incident against Judge Johnson is deplorable and we as members of this community can not stand for it,\u201d said Council Member Bill de Blasio. \u201cI urge the police and the DA’s office to move quickly and forcefully with an investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of the leaders of Brooklyn will allow hate crimes to exist in our communities,\u201d said Council Member Albert Vann. \u201cJustice must be served without fear, without trepidation. We will never all these acts to prevail in our city.\u201d<\/p>\n
Diana Johnson is Brooklyn\u2019s first African-American Surrogate Court Judge. In January, racial slurs against Judge Johnson were spray-painted in a Brooklyn Surrogate Court elevator. According to the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force, hate crimes have gone up by 20% in New York City in recent years.<\/p>\n
###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Brooklyn, NY \u2013 Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Council Member Letitia James today denounced death threats that were recently mailed to Judge Diana Johnson and her family. They were joined by Council Member Bill de Blasio, Council Member Albert Vann, State Assemblyman Karim Camara, State Senator Eric Adams, Reverend Clarence Norman Sr., and other community leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very sad that hate and ignorance have once again been directed at Judge Johnson,\u201d said Council Speaker Christine C.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n