New York, NY, July 1, 2005 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) deplores the brutal beating of an African-American man in the Howard Beach section of Queens, an attack that police have described as racially motivated.

Joel J. Levy, ADL New York Regional Director, issued the following statement:

There is no room in our city for racism, especially when it comes in a volatile mix of hatred and violence.  If we have learned anything from recent history, we cannot let this attack divide us and undo all of the positive strides we have made in making New York a more tolerant place to live.

The commendable response by the police, community leaders and Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the aftermath of this deplorable attack shows that New Yorkers can indeed rise above our divisions and let cooler heads prevail.

Immediately after the attack, our police, community leaders and city officials have shown admirable deliberativeness in their appeals for calm and in setting out the facts for the public to understand.  By standing together in mutual expressions of shock and outrage, our city leaders set the tone for respect and moderation.  Such displays of civic responsibility and respect certainly go a long way toward forestalling the kind of adverse reactions that have divided our city in the past.

We welcome the swift action taken by law enforcement to arrest the alleged perpetrators of this crime, as well as their assurances that those responsible for the attack of Glenn Moore will face severe penalties under the state's hate crime laws, in order to send a message that such actions will not be tolerated by society.

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.