Gov. Andrew Cuomo Renames Hate Crime Legislation To Honor Monsey Stabbing Victim Who Died

NEW YORK (JTA) – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he is renaming proposed state hate crime legislation in honor of the Monsey stabbing victim who died on Sunday.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Josef Neumann, who suffered brutal stab wounds after an attacker invaded the home of Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg on the final night of Hanukkah three months ago,” Cuomo said in a statement Monday.

“This repugnant attack shook us to our core, demonstrating that we are not immune to the hate-fueled violence that we shamefully see elsewhere in the country.”

Neumann had remained in a coma from the time of the Dec. 28 attack to his death. He was 72. Four others were injured in the attack.

Following the attack, Cuomo proposed legislation that equates hate crimes with domestic terrorism. The legislation will be called the Josef Neumann Hate Crimes Domestic Terrorism Act.

Cuomo called on the state legislature to pass the act in the budget due this week.

“We owe it to Mr. Neumann, his family and the entire family of New York to get it done now,” the governor said.

After the hate-fueled attack in Monsey, I vowed to enact a law that calls this violence & hate what it is—domestic terrorism—and punishes perpetrators accordingly.

I will rename this bill in honor of Josef & I call on the Legislature to pass it.

We owe it to him to get it done.

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 30, 2020