“I have heard and seen a circulating video of comments made by a resident at the recent Rockville Centre Board meeting regarding the prospect of a house of worship being located in a residential neighborhood. She also suggested that zoning be established to prohibit houses of worship in private homes. What’s more, the resident made several statements, which were deeply disturbing on many counts.
If the Rockville Centre resident had merely requested prohibiting the establishment of houses of worship in private homes, based on issues such as increased traffic and noise, I might have been sympathetic to her concerns.
However, the bulk of her remarks were disgusting and clearly aimed at preventing “an Orthodox Jewish takeover” of Rockville Centre, citing her supposedly traumatic experience in the Five Towns area which, according to her account, ruined the schools and the neighborhood.
This speaker’s remarks warranted immediate and total condemnation from all reasonable people. I have spoken with Mayor Francis X. Murray, who I have known for a decade, and am confident that he will publicly indicate in the strongest terms that he does not share the speaker’s sentiments and opinions.
All citizens have the right, under our Constitution, to express their beliefs, as repugnant as they may be. At the same time, it is the duty of all responsible citizens to point out and condemn hate speech.”