Just this week, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $51 million in grant funding to fight hate crimes in New York.  

The issue has become front and center for civic and professional groups including the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) because of sky-rocketing rates of antisemitism and anti-Asian hate crimes.

The Bar Association just launched a task force to examine the hate crime laws that are currently on the books. 

According to NYSBA President Richard Lewis, who also serves as special counsel at Hinman, Howard & Kattell, the task force will not only review laws that pertain to hate crimes, but also the social issues that confront New Yorkers.

“What’s going on in our schools; what’s going on with our public officials? How can we not have the derogatory and aggressive conduct towards Asians and Jews become normalized conduct,” Lewis said of the task force’s focus.