YONKERS, New York (WABC) — A Yonkers resident says he and his family received a threatening letter because of Palestinian flags displayed outside their home, prompting a police investigation and a response from local officials and civil rights advocates.
Samir Nofal said he found the anonymous letter in his mailbox. According to Nofal, the letter threatened him and his family over flags representing his Palestinian heritage. The sender wrote that federal immigration authorities had been contacted and that his “house is now under surveillance.”
Rather than intimidate him, Nofal said the letter strengthened his resolve.
“Any other threat – we’re going to triple it. Any fourth threat- I’m going to paint my house in the Palestinian flag. That’s how steady I’m going to stand here,” Nofal said.
The letter also included statements such as, “If you love Palestine so much go back. We don’t want you here,” and “Remove the flags immediately.”
Nofal, an Uber driver and father of seven, said Yonkers is his home and that he is a proud American citizen. He criticized the anonymous sender and defended his right to display the flags.
“You have no respect for this country. I’m just going to comment based on this sentence. That coward – whoever sent this letter- he’s the one who does not have respect for this country and for the constitution of this country,” Nofal said.
He also said he wants to ensure his children enjoy the same rights as anyone else.
“I want to make sure that my kids as American-born, American-raised, Palestinian heritage, they have the same right as any coward that’s trying to send that letter to us,” he said.
On Thursday, CAIR-NY, which described itself as the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights group, called on city leaders to publicly condemn the incident.
“They need to stand up and make strong words about protecting our constitutional rights and to say they are going to investigate this fully,” said Zead Ramadan, a board member of CAIR-NY.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano also condemned the letter in a statement.
“I strongly disagree with the tone and vitriol of this letter. Everyone has a right to express their views, just as this family has a right to fly their flag. We may disagree, but we are Americans and neighbors. There is no place for hate in Yonkers,” Spano said.
Yonkers police are investigating to determine who sent the anonymous letter. The incident also has been reported to the Westchester County District Attorney’s bias crime unit.
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