New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed multiple pieces of legislation aimed at enhancing public safety, including a law that classifies the removal or threat of removal of religious clothing as a hate-fueled crime.

The new legislation, signed this week, amends existing state law to define the removal or threat of removal of religious attire, such as a yarmulke or hijab, as aggravated harassment in the second degree.

�Public safety is my top priority, and I�m committed to using every possible tool to keep New Yorkers safe,� Hochul said in a statement.

The move comes amid a rise in incidents involving religious clothing. One recent example occurred on Staten Island, where a man�s yarmulke was knocked off his head in an apparent hate crime.

The incident took place on Nov. 10 in the Willowbrook neighborhood when two individuals approached the 37-year-old victim on a black moped. One of the suspects struck the victim�s yarmulke off his head before fleeing the scene. Police arrested a 17-year-old suspect on Nov. 15, charging him with aggravated harassment in the second degree based on race or religion.

The governor�s office said the legislation is part of an ongoing effort to protect New Yorkers from hate-fueled violence and harassment, ensuring that individuals can express their religious identity without fear.

Hochul reaffirmed her commitment to public safety, stating that acts of religious harassment �have no place in New York.�

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)