GRACE MENG

Assemblywoman 22nd District Queens County

THEASSEMBLY STATEOFNEWYORK ALBANY

COMMITTEES Aging Banks Labor Libraries and Education Technology Small Business Real Property Taxation CAUCUSES Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus Legislative Women's Caucus SUBCOMMITTEE Workplace Safety

June 21, 2011 Honorable Gwen Wilkinson District Attorney, Tompkins County 320 North Tioga Street Ithaca, New York 14850 via fax transmission: (607) 274-5429 District Attorney Wilkinson,

This letter is respectfully sent concerning the June 5th attack of a student of Asian descent on the Cornell University Campus. The last news on this vicious assault was that an arrest had been made and, according to reports, that your office was reviewing the case to see whether hate crimechargeswouldapply. An attorney myself, I am aware of the dangers surrounding prosecutors speaking on how cases are assessed. But I am troubled that your office has been silent on all aspects of this upsetting matter. All violent crimes are horrendous. Judging one a hate crime does not diminish others; rather it conveys our societys commitment to shared priorities of respect, tolerance, acceptance and inclusion, and clearly signals that some acts are to be highlighted as tearing at the bonds of our civic life. New York States Asian-American communities are vibrant and dynamic, and have a long history of social activism. Like all communities, we value education, close family ties and generational aspirations and advancement. Silence from government officials in the face of an obvious bias attack on a college campus no less! - is an affront to these values. I encourage your office to continue its careful review of this matter and hope you agree that this incident was a bias motivated hate crime. Similarly, I strongly urge you to reach out for and speak with the various Asian-American organizations that are closely following this matter. Surely this is a local prosecution with statewide, national and academic significance. Sincerely,

Grace Meng Member of Assembly

ALBANY OFFICE: Room 417, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 ~ TEL: 518-455-5411, FAX: 518-455-4995 DISTRICT OFFICE: 136-20 38th Avenue, Suite 10A, Flushing, New York 11354 ~ TEL: 718 939 0195, FAX 718 939 1238 E-mail: mengg@assembly.state.ny.us