JOINT STATEMENT FROM BP MARKOWITZ, COUNCIL MEMBER BILL DE BLASIO, RABBI ANDY BACHMAN, COMMUNITY LEADER BRAD LANDER, LAMBDA INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATS, ON PLANNED PROTESTS IN BROOKLYN BY WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH

“Brooklyn’s diversity is at the core of our strength as a borough, and Brooklynites are never shy about expressing who they are. While we support the right to peacefully gather, we must denounce hate in any form—especially hate from a fanatic cult based in Kansas that has shamefully selected these sacred days observed by the Jewish community around the world to spew its intolerance. Because Brooklyn is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, and has one of America’s largest LGBT populations, we know first-hand that these communities and others often face discrimination and even violence or death at the hands of those who don’t share our belief that there is more that unites us than divides us. Therefore, we must be especially vigilant in condemning hatred and discrimination not only here in Brooklyn, but around the world.”