Ex-New York Gov Cuomo tells Gov Hochul deploy National Guard in response to antisemitism

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is urging his successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, to deploy the National Guard to protect Jews against antisemitism amid Israel's war against Hamas. 

"It’s time to deploy the National Guard to places of worship & send a clear message: hate has no place in NY," Cuomo wrote Saturday on the social media platform X.

He also expressed solidarity with the Jewish community by saying that an attack on any New Yorker is an attack on all.

He reiterated his support for deploying the National Guard on Sunday and said, "We need to speak with one voice & say 'You target a Jew, you target me too.'"

Cuomo, a Democrat, resigned in August 2021 following sexual misconduct allegations. Hochul, his lieutenant governor, assumed office and was elected to a full term in 2022. 

Hochul late last month announced her administration would award $75 million in grants for security to address hate crimes and keep houses of worship safe, following Hamas' deadly Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel, then Israel declaring war on Hamas

The New York Police Department says hate crimes against Jews increased 214% in the month of October, following the Hamas attack in which an estimated 1,200 people were killed. Anti-Jewish hate crimes counted for nearly 70% of all hate crimes in New York last month, per police data.

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