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Suffolk Exec Goes On Defensive Over Bias Crimes

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Nov 18, 2008 8:06 pm US/Eastern

Suffolk Exec Goes On Defensive Over Bias Crimes

Steve Levy Apologizes To Hispanics For Saying The Killing Of An Ecuadorean Immigrant Was 'A One Day Story'

Reporting
Jennifer McLogan

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (CBS) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 2: Approximately 500 people attended a candlelight vigil in East Patchogue, site of the bias killing of an Ecuadorean immigrant, on Nov. 14.
CBS
Click to enlarge 2 of 2: Marcello Lucero, 37, was stabbed to death in what police believe to be a "brutal murder motivated by racial bias."
CBS

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The Suffolk County executive is speaking out against racism, following a hate crime killing on Long Island.

Steve Levy is now trying to mend fences after being criticized for his stance on undocumented immigrants.

In his first major public speech since the stabbing of Ecuadorean immigrant Marcello Lucero in Patchogue, Levy apologized for his early comments characterizing the hate attack as "a one day story."

Levy challenged friends and classmates of the seven accused in the gang assault to speak up.

Levy said not reporting alleged hate mongers going off more than once on an apparent lynching spree to "beat up some Mexicans" is like those who remained silent during World War II, when Jews were being marched off to concentration camps.

"Many people sat back in silence. That's what we have to avoid here," Levy said. "There were individuals who knew there were marauding gangs who went around in the past trying to harm Hispanics and said nothing about it."

In an address before the American Jewish Committee in Bethpage, Levy said his high profile measures cracking down on undocumented workers were not to blame for racist attacks.

"You can be against illegal immigration policy, but you cannot allow that opposition to morph into the opposition of a human being," Levy said.

But during an emotional and sometimes tense public hearing before the Suffolk legislature on Tuesday, Hispanic groups testified Suffolk's policies do create hostilities and fear.

"We are not going to let Lucero die in vain!" said Dr. Luis Valenzuela of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance. "People, you need to get on with it. Suffolk needs to be an example to the nation of what inclusiveness means. Stop the hate!"

At a time in Suffolk when racial graffiti appeared in Mastic, KKK literature in Islip Terrace and a murder in Patchogue, many are asking leaders for a stronger message of tolerance.

Levy will make another speech to Long Islanders at 7 p.m. Tuesday (televised live on News12 Long Island) hoping to get a message of tolerance, to constituents.

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