New York, NY, January 8, 2014 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed Governor Andrew Cuomo’s call for changes to New York State law related to discrimination and bullying in schools in the wake of reports of wide spread anti-Semitic harassment and violence in the Pine Bush School District.  ADL said that that the Governor’s proposal, if enacted, “will go a long way to protect our students” from bullying, discrimination and anti-Semitism.

Governor Cuomo announced during his 2014 State of the State address a proposal, which would require schools to immediately report incidents to appropriate state agencies.

Evan R. Bernstein, ADL New York Regional Director, issued the following statement:

We applaud Governor Cuomo’s call to require schools to immediately report ongoing incidents of discrimination or harassment– like the accusations of anti-Semitic bullying incidents at Pine Bush Central School District that were exposed this summer – to appropriate state agencies. This is a common sense proposal that will go a long way to protect our students.

Governor Cuomo should be commended for both his strong response to the Pine Bush allegations, and for following through with this proposal to make sure discrimination and harassment have no place in any of our schools and is appropriately addressed.  We urge the New York State legislature to act quickly on the Governor’s proposals to protect our students.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.  Follow us on Twitter: @ADL_NY