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Laurie Cumbo

Yesterday

Dear Facebook Family,

This is a recent letter that I wrote to the community calling for zero-tolerance in reference to the

"knockout game" while simultaneously strengthening African-American/Caribbean and Jewish

relationships!

Thank You,

Laurie

The recent epidemic of the Knock Out Game in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn and throughout

the Nation has forced me to make some early decisions as to what type of elected official I want to be as

I prepare to take office in January. It is a most challenging time to assume office, as the elderly and our

children have become targets of violence, undermining the very foundation of community. I was very

pleased on November 19th, 2013 that Rabbi Chanina Sperlin organized a community forum of religious

leaders, school principals, elected officials, community leaders, and law enforcement to address this

issue in order to prevent it from spiraling out of control both in our neighborhood and beyond.

Many thoughts emerged from that meeting, including a recognition that the African

American/Caribbean/Jewish community had come a long way since the Crown Heights Riots over twenty

years ago. Others expressed sentiments that while there has been much progress, it was unfortunate

that it took a tragedy in the community to bring the leadership together once again. Some demanded

justice and swift legal action, while others stressed the importance of educational programs that would

teach our youth about one anothers cultures. Today, most young people are not even aware that the

Crown Heights Riots even happened.

At the forum, there was a great deal of confusion about why this epidemic had begun in the first place,

and whether or not it should be viewed as a series of hate crimes. My comments regarding my thoughts

on the origin of the Knock Out Game came from a place of wanting to get to the heart of the matter,

as uncomfortable as that might be for many. As I campaigned throughout the primary season, I knocked

on the doors of thousands of Jewish and African American/Caribbean residents in Crown Heights.


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Through those interactions, it was brought to my attention by many of the African American/Caribbean

residents that perhaps the relationship between the two communities is not as great as it is currently

perceived to be by the leadership. At the meeting, I shared that many African American/Caribbean

residents expressed a genuine concern that as the Jewish community continues to grow, they would be

pushed out by their Jewish landlords or by Jewish families looking to purchase homes. I relayed these

sentiments at the forum not as an insult to the Jewish community, but rather to offer possible insight as

to how young African American/Caribbean teens could conceivably commit a hate crime against a

community that they know very little about.

I admire the Jewish community immensely. I am particularly inspired by the fact that the Jewish

community has not assimilated to the dominant American culture, and has preserved their religious and

cultural values while remaining true to themselves. I respect and appreciate the Jewish communitys

family values and unity that has led to strong political, economic and cultural gains. While I personally

regard this level of tenacity, I also recognize that for others, the accomplishments of the Jewish

community triggers feelings of resentment, and a sense that Jewish success is not also their success.

I believe that it is critical for our communities, and especially for our young people, to gain a greater

understanding of one another so that we can learn more about each others challenges and triumphs

despite religious and cultural differences. I believe it is possible for us to create real friendships across

cultural boundaries that transcend mere tolerance, but rather strive for mutual respect and admiration.

I know that there is so very much that can be gained by learning from one another. When I assume

office in January, I will be working with local leaders to plan a series of events that will bring our young

people together. It is crucial that we do the hard work to truly create one community, and I am lookingfor your full support and participation.

I fully recognize the severity of these recent crimes and I, along with City, State and Federal elected

officials are calling for a detailed investigation, which I am confident will lead to arrests and legal action.

It is imperative that we send a zero-tolerance message to the individuals who are responsible for these

attacks. Let me make it abundantly clear, notwithstanding my eagerness to build bridges between

diverse peoples and communities, any crime committed by one individual against another is a crime and

must be viewed and treated as such. If one person attacks another, regardless of the motivation, there

is no justification for such an action. We should never blame a victim, or try to explain away any

wrongdoing. The issue of race or religion is but a red-herring one when it comes to crime. As a civilized

people we must hold every felon accountable for his or her felony. Yet, since the issue of race has been

unfortunately been introduced into the conversation about the current epidemic, I pray that I can assist

in bringing my Jewish and African-American/Caribbean constituents to a far better relationship and

understanding than the ones that exists today.


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As an African American woman, this is challenging, because I recognize that it is Black children and not

Jewish children that are playing the Knock Out Game. Why is this? In many ways governmental

neglect, outside uncontrolled influences and failed leadership have led to the breakdown that so many

young people of color are currently facing. I feel torn because I feel apart of the very system that hascaused the destructive path that so many young people have decided to take while I am simultaneously

demanding that they be arrested by that same system.

I am concerned that the media attention around the Knock Out Game is divisive and will erode the

real progress that has been made over decades. The recent November 26th article published in The

Jewish Week, paints African American teens in a dangerous light, and could cause the vast majority of

innocent young people of color to be seen as criminals in the Crown Heights community as a result of

the actions of a dangerous small minority. At the same time, there are some people in the African-

American/Caribbean community who foster stereotypical views of Jewish people, which is why it is

important that we create a more open dialogue.

http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new-york-news/knockout-comes-crown-heights

As the Rebbe once said There arent two communities living in Crown Heights. It is one community. As

the media has recently focused our attention on the Knock Out Game, I am challenged with the reality

that a 66 year old grandfather was shot and killed earlier this week while dropping off money in FortGreenes Walt Whitman Houses to help a family pay for Thanksgiving dinner. There was no public outcry

or calls for swift legal action for this loss of life or for the dozens of others that were killed in the public

housing developments this year in the District. I want us to move forward as a community and recognize

that we must all come together across religious and racial lines anytime someone in our community is

attacked. I want to realize the Rebbes life long pursuit to "make the world a better place, and to

eliminate suffering. It is only when we all come together and see one another as human beings instead

of through the lens of racial, cultural or ethnic categories that we will be able to make our communities

ONE.

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