Gov. Cuomo says New York taking action against hate crimes

NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state is taking action against the wave of hate crimes and violent threats, especially against Jews, across the country this year.

The governor and religious leaders gathered Thursday because of an uptick in disturbing things like anti-Semitic graffiti on a subway map, a bomb threat at the Anti-Defamation League headquarters Wednesday, and tombstones tipped over in a Jewish cemetery in St. Louis.

"Make no mistake the threat is real, these are not isolated instances, there's a clear pattern," Gov. Cuomo said.

The governor said the number of hate crimes in New York has doubled since the election of President Donald Trump, although Cuomo wouldn't directly blame the new president.

Cuomo on Thursday established a new text line, 81336, to report hate crimes and offered a $5,000 reward for tips leading to hate crime convictions.

He's also pushing for $25 million in extra security for cameras and guards at religious schools.

"There is no place for hate or discrimination or bigotry in New York," Gov. Cuomo said.

Across the country there's been a dramatic increase in hate crimes, especially at Jewish community centers. There were 54 bomb threats in January alone.

But it was vandalism at a St. Louis cemetery that shocked so many.

"The 170 headstones that were turned over, it's as if someone was trying to erase the memory of the Jewish community, of the Jewish people and that is simply intolerable," said Bishop James Massa, Diocese of Brooklyn.

Although the governor wouldn't directly blame the president, others do for not speaking out more forcefully against anti-Semitism.

"Maybe he has a motive for this. I don't know," said Rep. Jerry Nadler, (D) New York. "All I do know is he's refused the elementary duty of a president to denounce the wave of bigotry and help stop it."

The governor is urging all New Yorkers to get more involved and report any kind of hate crime they see.

As the governor said, when someone who's Jewish or Muslim or gay is attacked all New Yorkers are attacked.