BP MARKOWITZ DENOUNCES APPARENT HATE CRIME AGAINST BUSHWICK RESIDENT Calls on anyone with information on attack to come forward; Reinforces assurance that law enforcement is there to protect and help any and all crime victims and witnesses

“Our hearts go out to Mario Vera and his family during this difficult time, and we pray for his full recovery. In Brooklyn, which is a true city of immigrants, an attack on any one of us is an attack on us all. In this case, as in the fatal beating of Jose Sucuzhañay last year, bias was apparently involved, and this is simply disgusting to our diverse Brooklyn community, where so many cultures live peacefully side by side each day. Just as we are working together to help the NYPD in its efforts to find the perpetrators, we must also be vigilant in assuring any and all crime victims and witnesses that law enforcement is there to protect and help them and their communities. Anyone who saw anything or has information on this attack should come forward or call police so that justice can be served. I am confident the NYPD will apprehend the thugs responsible for this reprehensible hate crime, and that they will receive punishments befitting the severity of their sick and depraved act. As a community, we must have zero tolerance for intolerance..