OFFICE OF THE BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT ERIC L. ADAMS President December 6, 2016 Honorable Donald J. Trump President-elect 725 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10022 Re: Request for Meeting with NYPD Officer Elsokary Dear President-elect Trump: Congratulations on being elected as the 45" president of the United States of America. I know you are aware of the deep tensions that have persisted around our great country in the weeks following a long and arduous national election, These tensions have manifested themselves into a disturbing and dangerous pattern of hate crimes in big cities and small towns across America, especially here in our hometown of New York City. According to New York City Police Department (NYPD) statistics, there has been a 115 percent spike in bias-based attacks since Election Day — which have had a particular impact on Jewish, LGBTQ, and Muslim communities — compared to the same period last year. Without a doubt, the rhetoric of this campaign season has been a driving factor in a large number of these incidents, a fact we know from the words said and written by the perpetrators of these heinous acts. As elected leaders, we have a mutual concern and commitment to healing these rifts and emphasizing zero tolerance for anyone pursuing agendas of hate in our own backyards. You have been vocal in your respect for the law enforcement community. As Brooklyn’s borough president, I know how support from the top ranks of government is important for the ‘men and women who put their lives on the line to ensure public safety, particularly as someone ‘who put on a bulletproof vest for 22 years as one of New York’s Finest. As such, I hope you will accept my request for you to meet with NYPD Officer Aml Elsokary, a native Brooklynite who, along with her 16-year-son, was the victim of a hate crime in her neighborhood. She is an exemplary member of the 90" Precinet and, in 2014, she showcased true heroism when she ran Brookiyn Borough Hall» 208 Joralemon Street » Brooklyn, New York 1 1201 » 718/802-3700 » Fax 718/802-3522 » waw.btookyn-usa.orgDecember 6, 2016 President-elect Donald J. Trump Re: Request for Meeting with NYPD Officer Elsokary Page 2 into a burning building and saved the lives of a baby girl and elderly man. On Saturday, after stopping a man from shoving her son, a man told Officer Elsokary — who was off-duty and wearing a hijab — “ISIS. [expletive], I will eut your throat, go back to your country!” before fleeing the scene. No one, and certainly not a heroic police officer, should be subjected to threats and taunting simply because of their faith, This meeting request is rooted in both deep substance and symbolism. The 900 Muslim- American members of our nation’s largest police department, part of a greater law enforcement fraternity that encompasses thousands of our citizens and their families, deserve guidance on how they will be protected amid this uncertain national climate, just as they protect our streets every day regardless of the changes in the political landscape. Moreover, the welfare of these officers speaks to the greater welfare of the millions of law-abiding Muslim-Americans, many of whom are fearful at this critical juncture in our history. As president-elect, we are looking to you to provide the leadership that this moment requires, to ensure that our democracy continues to thrive because we believe in each other’s common value as neighbors, as people with a shared interest in advancing safe places to raise healthy children and families. This is something we truly appreciate here in Brooklyn, a borough of more than 2.6 million people where 47 percent of us speak a language other than English at home. Thope you will accept my request to meet with Officer Elsokary, as well as several of her fellow colleagues from the NYPD Muslim Officers Society. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. Sincerely, Eric L. Adams Brooklyn Borough President ELAV/sr