Dozens of immigrants rallied in Smithtown Tuesday to voice their opinion on what the county should do to promote unity and tolerance in the wake of several bias crimes.
Some of the demonstrators say Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy is responsible for fostering the kind of anti-immigrant sentiment that arguably led to the death of an Ecuadorian immigrant last month. They?re demanding an end to policies that they say demonize immigrants.
Levy tells News 12 Long Island, "I disagree with their proposal to stop enforcing the law but will join with them and anyone else to move forward in unity and promote tolerance.?
Leg. Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D-Setauket), however, took the executive to task for his policies.
?If the county executive is going to say on News 12 his polices have not frightened people away from reporting crimes, then we need to walk the walk and not just talk the talk,? Viloria-Fisher says.
Demonstrators say they want the Suffolk County Legislature to investigate claims there has been a 93-percent drop in reported hate crimes. They say they don?t believe the statistics.
A meeting for victims of hate crimes that have gone unreported will be held Wednesday at the Congregation Church of Patchogue at 6 p.m.