Dov Hikind
Dov Hikind | |
---|---|
![]() Hikind in 2017 | |
Member of theNew York State Assembly from the48thdistrict | |
In office January 5, 1983 – December 31, 2018 | |
Preceded by | Samuel Hirsch |
Succeeded by | Simcha Eichenstein |
Personal details | |
Born | Brooklyn,New York City,U.S. | June 30, 1950
Political party | Republican(since 2023) Democratic(until 2023) |
Spouse | Shoshana Hikind |
Children | Deena, Yoni, Shmuel |
Residence(s) | Brooklyn, New York City |
Alma mater | Queens College(BA) Brooklyn College(MA) |
Occupation | politician, activist, radio show host |
Dov Bernard Hikind(born June 30, 1950) is an American politician, activist, and radio talk show host in the state ofNew York.Hikind served as aDemocraticNew York State AssemblymanrepresentingBrooklyn's Assembly district 48 for 35 years – from January 1983 until December 2018.[1][2]
Background and family
[edit]Hikind grew up in aHaredi Jewishfamily inWilliamsburg, Brooklyn,his father being a devout follower of theVizhnitzHasidic dynasty.[citation needed]His parents were both Holocaust survivors, with his mother being liberated from Auschwitz.[3]He has aBAfromQueens College,and aMAfromBrooklyn College.[4]
Hikind is married, and has three children: Yoni, Shmuel, and Deena. Yoni and Shmuel both work as social workers in the Jewish community in Brooklyn.
Politics
[edit]Hikind endorsedMichael Bloombergthe first two times he ran formayor of New York City,then switched his endorsement to the challengerBill Thompsoninthe 2009 election.[5]During his decades as a Democrat, Hikind had broken ranks with his party in endorsements, most notably in his endorsement ofRepublicangubernatorial candidatesGeorge Patakiin1994andLee Zeldinin2022;Republican presidential nomineesGeorge W. Bushin2000and2004,John McCainin2008,Mitt Romneyin2012,andDonald Trumpin2016and2020;and RepublicanInna Vernikovfor New York City Council.
Described by theJewish Telegraphic AgencyandThe New York Timesas aconservative Democrat,[6][7]Hikind believes that the national party has moved too far to the left, particularly on social issues, for the liking of many of his constituents.[7]His district had long been one of the most conservative districts in New York City. For instance, it gaveDonald Trump69 percent of the vote in 2016, his second-best showing in the entire state; only theStaten Island-based 62nd Assembly District gave him a higher percentage of the vote. In 2012, it gave Romney 75 percent of the vote, his best showing in the state.[8]
Hikind expressed interest in thespecial electionfor theNew York's 9th congressional districtseat vacated byAnthony Weiner;Hikind did not expect theDemocratsto nominate him, and considered running as a Republican.[9]
In 2017, Hikind's son Yoni ran for the City Council in District 44 againstKalman Yeger,David Greenfield's hand-picked successor who was on the Democratic party line; in order to avoid a primary, the younger Hikind collected petitions to run on his own party line called "Our Neighborhood".[10]
In 2018, Hikind retired from theNew York State Assembly,proclaiming support for his successorSimcha Eichenstein.[11]
On July 20, 2023, Hikind along with his wife Shani, announced onTwitterthat they were changing their party affiliation from Democratic to Republican.[12]
Hikind hosts a weekly radio talk show in New York City.[13]
Views on issues
[edit]Israel
[edit]Hikind is a pro-Israel activist.[14]In the 1980s he was a member of theJewish Defense League,and a follower ofMeir Kahane.[3]He was also friends with activistChaim Ben Pesach.[3]Hikind broke with Kahane after Kahane moved to Israel and became more aggressive in his views against Arabs.[3]In an interview withRobert I. Friedman,Hikind stated that he supported forming a group of "intelligent professionals" to assassinate Nazis and Arab-American supporters of thePalestine Liberation Organization.[15][16]In 2001, he argued that theMadame Tussauds New Yorkwax museum should remove its wax statue of the Palestinian leaderYassir Arafat,saying that he was a terrorist whose image should not be in New York.[17]
Profiling
[edit]Hikind has advocated for theprofilingofMuslimsofMiddle EasternandSouth Asianbackground as a response toterrorism.[18]In 2005, he sponsored a bill to allow police to focus on Middle-Eastern men in subway bag searches.[19][20]At a news conference, holding up photos of Muslim men, he said: "The individuals involved [in terrorism] basically look like this. Why must police think twice before examining people of a particular group?"[21]He has described this as "terrorist profiling".[22]Civil rights groups opposed Hikind's proposal, and theNew York City Police Departmentreleased a statement against it, saying that "Racial profiling is illegal, of doubtful effectiveness, and against department policy".[23]
Following the attempted bombing ofNorthwest Airlines Flight 253in December 2009, Hikind introduced a similar bill that would allow law enforcement agencies to consider race and ethnicity as "one of many factors" in selecting persons for anti-terrorism stops and searches.[19]
Subway security
[edit]Hikind was instrumental in arranging for the allocation of $1.2 million in a project that helped to install 120closed-circuit televisionsecurity cameras in nine South Brooklynsubwaystations that are located in Jewish neighborhoods such asBorough Park,Midwood,Kensington, and Parkville. He stated that the project was prompted by "concerns that the Jewish community would be targeted" by terrorists.[24]Hikind encouraged politicians to do the same in other subway stations, which now lag behind those of his community.The New York Timesrevealed that theMetropolitan Transportation Authorityhad granted close to $600 million in funds for security to stations in New York City in late 2002; however, only a small fraction of it had been used productively by 2005.[25]
The Passion of the Christ
[edit]In 2003, Hikind and a group of supporters protestedMel Gibson's filmThe Passion of the Christ.He led about 50 Jewish leaders and supporters to theFox Newsoffices inManhattanin a demonstration, chanting,"The Passion is a lethal weapon against Jews."[26]Hikind was vocal in his anger against the movie, stating: "It will result in anti-Semitism and bigotry. It really takes us back to the Dark Ages... the Inquisition, the Crusades, all for the so-called sin of the Crucifixion of Jesus."[27]Hikind said the film "is unhealthy for Jews all over the world."[28]
United Nations
[edit]Hikind is part of a group of New York state legislators that has consistently attempted to block plans to renovate theheadquarters of the United Nations,calling the UN anti-American and anti-Israel.[29]
Hikind criticized PresidentBarack Obamafor abstaining onUN Security Council Resolution 2234,which criticized Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, calling the UN a "cesspool".[30]
Same-sex marriage
[edit]After voting against asame-sex marriage billin the New York State Assembly, Hikind claimed that same-sex marriage can lead to the acceptance ofincest,maintaining that, "If we authorize gay marriage in the state of New York, those who want to live and love incestuously will be five steps closer to achieving their goals as well."[31]On June 15, 2011, after the New York State Assembly passed a bill to legalize gay marriage, Hikind said gay marriage iswrong in the eyes of God.[32]
David Irving letter
[edit]On October 20, 2009, at the insistence of Hikind and twelve other New York State and City officeholders in a letter toAmerican ExpressCEOKenneth Chenault,the company rescinded its Merchants Agreement with prominent Holocaust denierDavid Irving.[33]
Oswego High School Holocaust assignment
[edit]In response to what he deemed a "stab in the back to Holocaust survivors", Hikind called for the resignation ofNew York State Education CommissionerMaryEllen Eliaon April 3, 2017, for her support of anOswego High Schoolassignment that asked students to put themselves inAdolf Hitler's shoes to argue for or against the "Final Solution".Elia had defended the assignment as one that allegedly fostered" critical thinking ".[34]
Incidents involving Hikind
[edit]Corruption allegations
[edit]In 1997, Hikind was indicted by the U.S. Attorney for allegedly receiving $40,000 in funding from the Council of Jewish Organizations of Borough Park (COJO) in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in state grant money. Hikind was acquitted, while his co-defendant, an official of the organization, Rabbi Elimelech Naiman, was found guilty. The former operations director of COJO, Paul Chernick, pled guilty in a plea agreement.[35]
In 2013, Hikind was alleged to have routinely failed to disclose payments he received fromMaimonides Hospitalfor advertising on his syndicated show.[36]The payments were subsequently investigated byGovernor Andrew Cuomo's abortedMoreland Commission.
Hikind was accused of arranging jobs in government for friends and family members. In response, Hikind told theNew York Daily Newsthat "I help strangers, and I certainly don't discriminate against members of my family".[37]
Blackface
[edit]Hikind woreblackface,anafrowig and sunglasses during the 2013Purimcelebration, dressing up as what he said was abasketball player.[38]He initially defended his costume decision, pointing to the "anything goes" tradition of Purim, but eventually apologized, saying that he didn't mean to offend anyone.Charles Barronsaid that Hikind's apology was not enough, askingSheldon Silverto remove Hikind from his position of assistant majority leader.[39]
Lawsuit against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
[edit]Hikind filed a lawsuit against U.S. RepresentativeAlexandria Ocasio-Cortezfor blocking him on Twitter. On November 4, 2019, it was announced that they settled the lawsuit, with Ocasio-Cortez issuing a statement apologizing for the block.[40][41]
References
[edit]- ^Kim, CeFaan (25 April 2018)."Longtime lawmaker Dov Hikind not running for re-election".ABC7 New York.Disney.
- ^"ORIG. 1976 MUGSHOT OF CONGRESSMAN, ACTIVIST, TALK SHOW HOST BERNARD DOV HIKIND | eBay".2024-07-05. Archived fromthe originalon 2024-07-05.Retrieved2024-07-05.
- ^abcdBumiller, Elisabeth (17 March 1996)."The Gladiators of Borough Park; Rivals Compete for Power in an Orthodox Arena".The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon September 14, 2022.RetrievedJuly 12,2023.
- ^"Hikind reflects on long, passionate career".11 December 2018.
- ^McIntire, Mike. "Mayor's Campaign Follows Jewish Voters to the Catskills".The New York Times,August 1, 2005; p. B4
- ^"One of New York's most outspoken Orthodox politicians is retiring".Jewish Telegraphic Agency. April 25, 2018.
- ^abNeuman, William (November 10, 2016)."In Democratic Stronghold of New York City, Trump Finds Support Among Orthodox Jews".The New York Times.
- ^Daily Kos database of election data
- ^Benjamin, Elizabeth (2011-06-20).ExtrasArchivedMarch 29, 2012, at theWayback Machine.State of Politics.Retrieved 2011-06-20.
- ^Jorgensen, Jillian (December 3, 2017)."Assemblyman Dov Hikind's son, Yoni, jumps in race for City Councilman David Greenfield's seat".New York Daily News.
- ^Donn, Yochonon (April 26, 2018)"Simcha Eichenstein Declares Candidacy for Brooklyn Assembly Seat",Hamodia."Speaking at Hamodia's office, [Eichenstein], the 34-year-old veteran of the de Blasio administration, said in an interview that he will run in the Democratic primary this September to replace Mr. Hikind, a long-time lawmaker who announced this week that he will no longer run. Mr. Hikind is supporting Mr. Eichenstein's candidacy, and intends to campaign with him."
- ^Dov Hikind (July 20, 2023)."My wife and I have switched our party affiliation from Democrat to Republican!".Twitter.Retrieved2023-07-20.
- ^Goldmacher, Shane (July 31, 2017)"Bitter Feud Divides New York's Orthodox Jewish Politicians",The New York Times.Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^Fearnow, Benjamin (February 11, 2020)"Former Democratic Assemblyman Removed From Rashida Tlaib Event for Asking 'What About Your Anti-Semitism?',Newsweek.Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^The Former Terror Suspect Leading the Attack on the Brooklyn College BDS Panel,byMax Blumenthal,February 6, 2013,The Nation
- ^This Politician Keeps Saying Linda Sarsour Supports Terror. But He Was In A Terror Group,by Christopher Mathias, 05/11/2017,HuffPost
- ^Haberman, Clyde (2001-05-19)."NYC; Offense Taken To Extremes On Our Behalf".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2023-09-11.
- ^Vielkind, Jimmy (December 29, 2009)."Hikind Renews Call for Terror Suspect Profiling".Observer.New York.
- ^abOmi, Michael; Winant, Howard (2012)."Conclusion".In HoSang, Daniel; et al. (eds.).Racial Formation in the Twenty-First Century.University of California Press. p. 314.ISBN978-0-52-027343-6.
- ^Epstein, Edward (August 10, 2005)."Calls for racial, ethnic profiling renewed after transit attacks / Critics say it unfairly singles out minorities".San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^Getlin, Josh (August 14, 2005)."Complaints on NYC subway searches grow".The Baltimore Sun.Retrieved26 February2013.
- ^Kaufmann, Mareile (2010).Ethnic Profiling and Counter-terrorism: Examples of European Practice and Possible Repercussions.LIT Verlag Münster. p. 44.ISBN978-3-64-310447-2.
- ^"Pol: Use Racial Profiling on Subways".Fox News.October 6, 2005.
- ^Chan (NYT), Sewell (2005-06-02)."Metro Briefing | New York: Brooklyn: Security Cameras In Stations".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2023-09-11.
- ^Chan, Sewell (2005-07-09)."M.T.A. Slow to Spend Money on Transit Security".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2023-09-11.
- ^Trotta, Liz. "Jewish leaders condemn film: Call Gibson's movie on Christ's crucifixion anti-Semitic.",The Washington Times;p. A14 (August 29, 2003)
- ^"Fox passes on Gibson'sThe Passion".Los Angeles Times.2004-10-22.Retrieved2008-08-30.
- ^"Fox passes on Gibson'sThe Passion".Los Angeles Times.2004-10-22.Retrieved2008-08-30.
- ^"UN Takes A Beating",The Jewish Week,December 17, 2004
- ^"Assemblyman Hikind: Obama is a hero to the terrorists".Arutz Sheva.December 30, 2016.Retrieved27 December2016.
- ^Paybarah, Azi (2007-06-22)."Hikind Responds: Why Not Incest?".The New York Observer. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-10-11.Retrieved2008-11-22.
- ^"NY Assembly passes gay marriage as expected".Seattle Post-Intelligencer.Associated Press. 2011-06-15.[dead link]
- ^Siemaszko, Corky."American Express says Holocaust denier David Irving's no 'merchant', thanks to Assemblyman Hikind".ArchivedOctober 24, 2009, at theWayback MachineNew York Daily News.October 21, 2009; retrieved 2009-11-24.
- ^Elizalde, Elizabeth (April 3, 2017)"Assemblyman Dov Hikind Condemns 'pro-Nazi' Homework at New York School",New York Daily News.Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^Fried, Joseph P. (July 14, 1998)."Jury Acquits Assemblyman Hikind of Corruption Charges".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedNovember 4,2019.
- ^"Dov Hikind's radio silence".Crain's New York Business.2013-07-21.Retrieved2019-11-04.
- ^Blau, Reuven (9 July 2013)."All in the family: Assemblyman Hikind's kids and pals snag political gigs".nydailynews.Retrieved2019-11-04.
- ^"Dov Hikind Parties Down for Purim in 'Black Basketball Player' Costume".Observer.2013-02-25.Retrieved2019-11-04.
- ^Blain, Erin Durkin, Glenn (26 February 2013)."Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind Goes on Apology Campaign After Photo of Him Wearing Blackface Surfaces".nydailynews.Retrieved2019-11-04.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^Bowden, John (November 4, 2019)."Ocasio-Cortez apologizes for blocking ex-politician on Twitter, settles lawsuit".The Hill.RetrievedNovember 4,2019.
- ^Gershman, Jacob; Morris, Betsy (November 4, 2019)."Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Apologizes for Blocking Twitter Critic".The Wall Street Journal.RetrievedNovember 4,2019.
External links
[edit]- 1950 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American politicians
- 21st-century American politicians
- American Orthodox Jews
- American talk radio hosts
- American Zionists
- Jewish American activists
- Jewish American state legislators in New York (state)
- Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly
- People from Williamsburg, Brooklyn
- Queens College, City University of New York alumni
- Vizhnitz (Hasidic dynasty) members