Lawmakers push for anti-hate reporting awareness

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

When antisemitic graffiti was found at Merrick’s Chatterton Elementary School, a hotline was available to report the incident to the proper authorities.

But unlike 911 or 988 — well-known numbers to report emergencies or seek immediate mental health assistance — how to reach the bias hotline is not so well-known. And Nassau County Democrats are pushing their colleagues to change that.

Anyone can text messages and photos, or even call (516) 500-0657 if they see hate anywhere in their communities, All calls are returned during business hours, police said. And for those who prefer email, it’s combatbias@pdcn.org.

Siela Bynoe commended the Nassau County Police department for rolling out technology that allows people to quickly and confidentially report incidents of hate.

“But access is not awareness,” the county legislator told reporters outside of Chatterton School last week. “Access without awareness does not get what’s intended.”

Nassau County police officials say two swastikas as well as anti-police sentiments were spray painted at the Chatterton playground July 30.

That prompted an emergency meeting a week later by the South Merrick Community Civic Association, intended to be an open discussion with police, detectives, school superintendents and rabbis about how the community can combat hate.

The following day, police arrested a 14-year-old Freeport boy, charging him with two felonies and a pair of misdemeanors.

But the number of people across Nassau County who even know this hotline exists is small, Bynoe said. A public awareness campaign is needed to get that word out, because if more instances are reported, the county can map out where there is an influx of bias incidents and direct resources to those communities.

“We must pull out all the stops and find and implement as many tools as possible to stem the tide of this wave of hatred we are witnessing,” said County Legislator Arnold Drucker, who added he’d also like to work with state officials to ensure justice is served when people are arrested for hateful acts.