STATEN ISLAND, NY — Religious leaders from across Staten Island gathered in Willowbrook on Tuesday to condemn hate and celebrate religious freedom.
The interfaith leaders were joined by Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon and Assemblymember Sam Pirozzolo, a Republican who represents Mid-Island, on the steps of Young Israel of Staten Island to express their support for protecting the rights of people to practice their faith freely.
Fossella tied the gathering to the celebration of Thanksgiving, and how the Pilgrims left England in search of religious freedoms.
“There’s talk about when the Pilgrims first came here, they were seeking religious freedom. They came together, and around this time of year, they celebrated a harvest to give thanks and gratitude for all the blessings in their life,” he stated. “Nothing has really changed in these last few hundred years. We still give thanks and express gratitude for living in the greatest country in the world, in large part because we are free to exercise whatever religion we want.”
Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, and religious leaders are making a renewed call for the protection of New Yorkers practicing their faith freely, without fear of retribution, at Young Israel in Willowbrook on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
This event followed a large protest outside the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan on Nov. 19. According to amNewYork, there were videos of the event where anti-Israel protestors could be heard saying “Globalize the intifada,” “Death to the IDF” and “Resistance … take another settler out.” It was reported that the demonstration ended with no arrests.
“What happened the other day up on the East Side of Manhattan at that synagogue is unacceptable, and it is not to be tolerated. People are simply going about their American right,” stated District Attorney Michael McMahon. “But it’s more than that, it’s a human right. To follow their religion and express their religion, whatever it is, and that’s something we have to stand up for every day when someone threatens that.”
Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, and religious leaders are making a renewed call for the protection of New Yorkers practicing their faith freely, without fear of retribution, at Young Israel in Willowbrook on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
McMahon, along with Pirozzolo, emphasized Staten Island’s zero-tolerance approach to prosecuting hate crimes.
“If you’re going to do something that’s hate filled, we’re going to come after you, we’re going to find you, we’re going to get you, and we’re going to prosecute you,” Pirozzolo said.
Msgr. William Belford of St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Castleton Corners, who was joined by representatives from multiple religious and cultural communities, emphasized the importance of harmony among different faiths.
Msgr. William Belford of St. Teresa’s Parish is surrounded by Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, and religious leaders as the group made a renewed call for the protection of New Yorkers practicing their faith freely, without fear of retribution, at Young Israel in Willowbrook on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
“No matter what aspect of our religions we want to celebrate, it should be allowed to be done in peace and harmony and everybody taking some joy in what others do as well. I speak for our Catholic priests and people in saying no hatred is allowed, only peace and joy,” said the parish leader.
“There is no room for hate crime and discrimination in this land,” added Gurdev Singh Kang of the Sikh community. “God bless America. God bless all New Yorkers. We want to keep peace.”
“We stand here united. We’ve been at these stairs before, unfortunately, too many times for this kind of hating, but also we have still stood together in times of celebrations,” Imam Tahir Kukaj, a clergy leader for the Albanian and Muslim community on Staten Island, told the Advance/SILive.com after the press conference.
Rabbi Yaakov Lehrfield of Young Israel, who hosted the event, expressed his gratitude for the support and assured attendees that the interfaith community is a strong one.
“They have set up, which happens all the time, round table meetings with leaders of interfaith, and we meet and we talk, and all of us get along beautifully,” he said. “We get along fine. We respect each other, which is a beautiful thing.”