November 20, 2023

The Honorable Kathy Hochul

Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Governor Hochul,

We are a bipartisan group of elected officials from all levels of New York government, and we write to you
under urgent circumstances. Since the terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7 th, the climate for Jewish
students and Jewish New Yorkers has reached past a breaking point. As frightening events such as those at
Cooper Union, Cornell, and Harvard continue to engulf college campuses, Jewish students do not feel
physically safe at countless public and private universities throughout New York City and State.

These are extraordinarily difficult days for Jewish New Yorkers affected by a steep rise in hate and bias
incidents in the weeks following October 7th. During these tense times, you have exhibited exemplary
leadership on this issue, and we were particularly pleased to see you show up for targeted groups of students.

For years, a major growing cause of concern on college campuses has been a group called “Students for Justice
in Palestine” (SJP), which has chapters throughout American Universities. The National Students for Justice in
Palestine (National SJP), the umbrella organization which New York chapters are under, published a “toolkit”
that refers to the Hamas operation as “the resistance” and states that “Palestinian students in exile are PART
of this movement, not in solidarity with this movement.” As such, National SJP is essentially admitting that it is
part of a U.S. government-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.

SJP’s across New York State have released statements which explicitly endorse the use of violence and attacks
on civilians. At their events, SJP members and allies chant things like “from New York to Gaza, Globalize the
Intifada,” “when people are occupied, resistance is justified,” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be
free.” These chants are from the Hamas charter and call for the death and annihilation of Jews and Israel.

Under New York law, it is a felony to “solicit or provide support for an act of terrorism” or make “terrorist
threats.” Student groups which explicitly endorse registered foreign terrorist organizations must be shut down
at the University level. We request that you work with university Chancellors and Presidents, as well as the
U.S. Department of Justice to investigate further and take immediate and necessary action.
This is a civil rights issue, it is an equal protection of the law issue, and it calls for bold action and moral
courage. Jewish students have a right to an education free from persecution, harassment, intimidation, and
threats to their physical safety.

New York cannot fail in its legal obligation to protect its Jewish students. When the conduct of students,
student groups, and even faculty members creates a severe and pervasive hostile environment that interferes
with the ability of Jewish students to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, and privileges
provided by their school, there is an obligation, under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and applicable
state and federal anti-discrimination laws, to act to address and remedy this hostile environment. We ask that
you do so.

We thank you in advance for your attention to this grave matter. Please let us know how we can be of any
assistance in fulfilling this request.

Sincerely,

Hon. Inna Vernikov

Councilmember, 48th District
New York City Council Minority Whip

Hon. Joseph C. Borelli Hon. Robert Holden

Minority Leader, 51st District Council Member, 30th District
Co-Chair, Common-Sense Caucus Co-Chair, Common-Sense Caucus

Hon. Kalman Yeger Hon. Joann Ariola

Council Member, 44th District Council Member, 32nd District

Hon. David Carr Hon. Vickie Paladino

Council Member, 50th District Council Member, 19th District
Hon. Ari Kagan Hon. Eric Ari Brown
Council Member, 47th District Assembly Member, 20th District

Hon. Michael Fitzpatrick Hon. Joe DeStefano

Assembly Member, 8th District Assembly Member, 3rd District

Hon. Alec Brook-Krasny Hon. John McGowan

Assembly Member, 46th District Assembly Member, 97th District

Hon. Ed Flood Hon. Colonel Robert J. Smullen, USMC, Ret.

Assembly Member, 4th District Assembly Member, 118th District

Hon. Joseph Angelino Hon. Steve Hawley

Assembly Member, 121st District Assembly Member, 139th District

Hon. Brian Manktelow Hon. Sam Berger

Assembly Member, 130th District Assembly Member, 27th District

Hon. Christopher Tague Hon. Michael Norris

Assembly Member, 102nd District Assembly Member, 144th District
Hon. Keith P. Brown Hon. John Lemondes
Assembly Member, 12th District Assembly Member, 126th District

Hon. Christopher S. Friend, Ph.D. Hon. William Colton

Assembly Member, 124th District Assembly Member, 47th District

Hon. Scott Gray Hon. Doug Smith

Assembly Member, 116th District Assembly Member, 5th District

Hon. Edward Ra Hon. Matthew Simpson

Assembly Member, 19th District Assembly Member, 114th District

Hon. Simcha Eichenstein Hon. Mazi Melesa Pilip

Assembly Member, 48th District Nassau County Legislator, 10th District

Hon. Nily Rozic Hon. Michael Novakhov

Assembly Member, 25th District Assembly Member, 45th District
Hon. Brian Maher Hon. Lester Chang
Assembly Member, 101st District Assembly Member, 49th District

Hon. Brian D. Miller Hon. Jake Blumencranz

Assembly Member, 122nd District Assembly Member, 15th District

Hon. Ken Blankenbush Hon. David Weprin

Assembly Member, 117th District Assembly Member, 24th District

Hon. Bill Weber Hon. Scott Bendett

NYS Senate, 38th District Assembly Member, 107th District

Hon. Simcha Felder

NYS Senate, 22nd District