AN APPEAL TO BROOKLYN COLLEGE DONORS TO REMOVE COLLEGE ENDORSEMENT OF ANTI-SEMITIC LECTURES

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

February 5, 2013

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release
718-853-9616 (office)
 
HIKIND APPEALS TO BROOKLYN COLLEGE DONORS TO REMOVE COLLEGE ENDORSEMENT OF ANTI-SEMITIC LECTURES

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has reached out to individual Brooklyn College trustees and major donors in an effort to convince Brooklyn College President Karen Gould of her grave error in allowing the school’s Political Science Department to officially co-sponsor an anti-Semitic/anti-Israel lecture. Featuring a well-known racist, the event “BDS Movement Against Israel” is scheduled to take place on campus on February 7.


“We are not objecting to freedom of speech,” the Assemblyman told the trustees and donors, who have given tens of millions of dollars to the college. “We aren’t attempting to still any side of any argument. What we object to is the school’s endorsement of this event. The BDS movement’s stated goal is to not only effectuate a boycott of Israeli businesses and schools but to fully delegitimize Israel’s existence.


“Brooklyn College relies on tax dollars as well as contributions from generous individuals. My fellow elected officials on the New York City Council, the New York State Assembly, and the New York State Senate will continue to raise our voices in strong objection to this event’s official sponsorship by a Brooklyn College Department. I am hopeful that donors, too, will raise their voices and help convince President Karen Gould of the error in allowing this event to be sponsored and endorsed by the college itself.”


Last week, Assemblyman Hikind was joined by numerous elected officials in protesting the college’s official endorsement of the event. Since that time, many more elected officials—including U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler, NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn—have added their voices in objecting to the school’s seal of approval on the hatefest.

STRATEGIZING WITH DE BLASIO AS 27K+ SIGN PETITION TO FREE JACOB OSTREICHER

press release

As the one-year anniversary of Jacob Ostreicher’s questionable incarceration approaches, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) continues to lead the charge for his constituent. Yesterday, the Assemblyman met with NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Ostreicher’s wife Miriam to continue strategizing as more than 27,000 signatures filed a petition to the White House to intervene for the U.S. citizen who is being held in a Bolivian prison.

Miriam Ostreicher, Dov Hikind and Bill de Blasio discuss Jacob Ostreicher's situation

“Jacob Ostreicher’s life continues to be a living hell,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “In just a few days he will have been trapped for a full year in the Palmasola Prison in Bolivian where daily conditions are deplorable and it’s difficult to maintain one’s faith. But faith is what I told Jacob he must continue to cling to. Despite the injustice of his situation, the dangerous environment surrounding him and the weakness brought on by his hunger strike, Jacob Ostreicher must stay strong just as we must remain diligent in our efforts to free him. Fortunately, we’re beginning to see an increased effort on the part of our elected officials for Jacob.”

Over the last few weeks there have been public efforts not only from Council Members and Assembly Members but also from U.S. Congress Members, as well as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Yesterday, de Blasio made his commitment to Mrs. Ostreicher clear.

“Miriam Ostreicher and her family are in terrible distress because of Jacob Ostreicher’s situation,” said de Blasio. “This situation can not be allowed to drag on and on. In my capacity as Public Advocate, I am reaching out to all of the people that I have relationships with in the U.S. Government and asking for their help.”

After a year without justice, a year without being charged with a crime, Ostreicher has been promised a hearing on June 11 by the Bolivian government.

“These promises have been made and broken before,” said the Assemblyman. “Regardless, my staff, colleagues and I remain committed to seeing justice for Jacob Ostreicher. And I will continue to report on our progress.”

And My Endorsement for NYC Mayor Is…

When I received a phone call on Sunday afternoon from Sally Goldenberg at The NY Post, I was happy to answer her questions about Bill Thompson and his relationship with the Jewish community. Bill is an old friend and I have nothing but good things to say about him. But I also have nothing but good things to say about Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, NYC Comptroller John Liu, and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer (listed alphabetically—not by position held, height, age or any other factor). In fact, I did say good things about all three of these friends to Sally in that same conversation. Those things just didn’t make it to The NY Post article.

The fact is I have not endorsed anyone for NYC Mayor. I’m far from discussing an election that will not take place until next year.

I was quoted as saying Bill Thompson is a favorite in the Jewish community. That’s true. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s the favorite.

I supported Bill when he ran against—and narrowly lost to—Mayor Bloomberg. I believed then that Bill was better for our community and our city. I still believe that. But I think the same thing about many of the candidates who are looking at a mayoral run.

As for my relationship with the other prospective candidates:

• Just last month I joined Bill de Blasio at his press conference demanding that Nissan—the winner of a $1 billion contract to manufacture NYC’s “Taxi of Tomorrow”—stop conducting business in Iran.


• John Liu and I have stood together on many issues impacting the Jewish community and we continue to do so. 


• Just two weeks ago, Scott Stringer supported my efforts (successfully) to have the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art give full disclosure to Gertrude Stein’s past in presenting her art collection “The Steins Collect.” 

 So I repeat, I haven’t endorsed anyone. And to the best of my knowledge neither has the Jewish community.

Nissan: You Can't Be A Little Pregnant! Stop Undermining Sanctions Against Iran

With Bill de Blasio (photo courtesy of Colin Campbell)

I joined Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Iran180 and United Against Nuclear Iran at a press conference today in NYC demanding that Nissan—the winner of a $1 billion contract to manufacture NYC’s “Taxi of Tomorrow”—stop conducting business in Iran. Nissan sells roughly 7,500 vehicles a year in Iran and has been placed on Public Advocate de Blasio’s “Iran Watch List,” a new campaign targeting companies that do business with Iran and undermine economic sanctions.



It is shameful and unconscionable for Nissan to undermine sanctions against Iran by doing business with them. It’s clear that Ahmadinejad, the little Hitler, must be stopped from developing a nuclear weapon at all costs, but by continuing to do business with Iran, Nissan makes it that much easier for Ahmadinejad to pursue his nefarious goal. We demand that Nissan stop playing games and fully uphold the sanctions against this terrorist state.