TH ASSEM ELY senor TO: DISTRECT OFFICE EW YO 1310 489' Street Broekiyn, New York 11219 - {718) 853?961 5 AL. SANY {7'18} 436?5734 a ALBANY OFFICE HIKEND Room 551 Legisiative Office Buiiding Albany, New York 12248 .nr - ASSESTANT Fabruaw 4? 2016 iSAgf?lgjigiiSi?gg?gma LEADER - a i . Assembiyman 48?? District . . Eric T. Schneiderman New York State Attorney General The Capitol Albany, NY 12224 Dear Attorney General Schneiderman: As a champion of tolerance and acceptance of all, i am writing to you to deal with the horrible epidemic in Rockland County: anti~Semitism. This week?s latest example of anti-Semitism is from a disgusting derogatory video depiction of Jews during the Roman Empire that was shown to several 9th grade Social Studies classes in Clarkstown South High School. After sparking a public outcry, the Superintendent of Schools for the Clarkstown Central School District and the principal, both issued a mea culpa and have removed this video from the curriculum. We do not know the full effects this video has already had on the students. Everyone is interested in doing what is ?politically Correct?. While I commend the superintendent and principal, this apology falls short. How this video was approved by several individuals and introduced as part of the curriculum is mind boggling. What system is in place where one might think that this type of video is acceptable? What is most disturbing is that incidents of this nature are becoming commonplace in Rockland County. We live in an era where everyone is encouraged to be culturally sensitive, yet the only way to accomplish that in Rockland is to have that behavior mandated by the courts. From Pine Bush to Bloomingburg, East Ramapo to Kiryas Joel, there is a pervasive atmosphere of anti-Semitism. From protecting people?s basic human rights to their religious freedom, there seems to be too many obstacles for the Jewish communities who live in these areas. Therefore, I am requesting of you, as a champion of people?s rights, to form a task force to investigate both the overt and covert anti?Semitism in Rockland County. The dangerous behavior and environment being fostered by the communities and local governments needs to be dealt with in a serious manner. We cannot sit idly by and allow this atmosphere to become even more poisonous than it already is. we are dealing with an entirely new generation of young impressionable minds. Once that generation has been poisoned, that damage can never be undone. One can teach tolerance and understanding, but if the foundation is rotten, it will always be superficial. i hope that with the formation of this task force we can begin addressing this serious issue. People . should never be made to feel that their basic rights are being violated. fwd-r M?s .w - Sin ey we" mwwy/ ?we? r/ . ov Hikind Member of Assembly