On January 29th, City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced the creation of a Taskforce to Combat Antisemitism to be co-led by Council Members Eric Dinowitz and MAGA Republican Inna Vernikov. 

Contact Speaker Menin NOW to remove Vernikov from a position of leadership immediately, and to commit to combating antisemitism alongside other forms of bigotry and hate violence, not in isolation. 
 

Scroll down or click here to send the message below to Speaker Menin

Dear Council Speaker Menin, 

I am a Jewish New Yorker who is appalled by your appointment of CM Inna Vernikov to co-lead a task force on antisemitism. I am calling on you to remove her from a position of leadership immediately, and to commit to combating antisemitism alongside other forms of bigotry and hate violence, not in isolation.

Speaker Menin - you said in February that CM Vernikov is "now on notice - if there is any additional rhetoric like [her previous bigoted statements] I will publicly call on the Jewish Caucus to remove her." On May 15, the Council Member promoted Islamophobic rhetoric again, targeting a group of Muslim men praying in Brooklyn, spreading dangerous lies and fear-mongering. That same day, men praying outside a different mosque were attacked by people throwing eggs. Days later, an Islamic Center in San Diego was the target of a mass shooting.  

I am calling on you to follow through and take action now. Please remove CM Vernikov from the task force, as you said you would do, and please read below for the original appeal hundreds of Jewish New Yorkers sent to your office months ago when Vernikov's role was first announced:

 Council Member Vernikov has shown on numerous occasions that she lacks the judgement and credibility necessary for this leadership role, from intimidating student protestors with a gun to falsely accusing Mayor Mamdani of wanting Jews to “burn in an oven.”  

Moreover, Vernikov’s long history of racism, Islamophobia, transphobia, and antisemitism should disqualify her from co-leading a task force to combat bigotry. Vernikov has, on many occasions, reduced antisemitism to a political cudgel and sought to delegitimize the Jewishness of progressive Jews. Vernikov has even used the term “kapo” to refer to Jews with whom she disagrees – this is itself, antisemitism. 

Like your misguided proposal restricting protest outside houses of worship instead of investing in proven solutions to hate violence, your decision to elevate Vernikov to a position of power and authority on the subject of antisemitism will cause more harm to Jewish New Yorkers, not less.

Speaker Menin, you recently said that “this is a time to uplift all communities, not sow divisions.” If you truly believe this, you will remove Council Member Vernikov from this task force and engage in real conversation with a diverse range of Jewish New Yorkers, including members of Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), about how to combat antisemitism alongside other forms of hate violence using data-driven initiatives that protect the rights of all New Yorkers, no exceptions.

Thank you. 
[YOUR NAME]