Brooklyn, NY – On the heels of an avalanche of criticism and calls for an apology from Democratic leaders over his ill-advised Purim costume Sunday, Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind posted this morning again a heartfelt apology on his website.
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“I am sincerely sorry that I have hurt anyone,” says Hikind’s website (http://bit.ly/13Q5bSm). “I apologize for the pain that I have caused anyone by this incident, and by any remarks that I have made in connection with it. It genuinely pains me that I have pained any human being. That’s not who I am. not who I want to be.”
Hikind had come under fire from Democratic political and community leaders for wearing black face on Purim.
On Monday, Attorney General Eric Shindermnan took to Twitter, saying, “As someone who respects AM Hikind, I believe he owes the public an unequivocal apology for his incredibly insensitive and offensive actions.”
Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) called the costume ‘inappropriate’ and ‘offensive.’
Assemblyman Karim Camara of the state Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus had on Monday called Hikind’s actions at the party “callous and repugnant.” According to Glenn Blain of The NY Daily News, Camara spoke to Hikind today and he’s “satisfied” with Hikind’s apology.
And Jewish State Senator Simcha Felder, a Brooklyn Democrat who was once chief of staff to Mr. Hikind, said according to the NY Times, “Purim is a happy time, a happy day, and it should not be at anyone else’s expense,” Mr. Felder said.
Hikind’s message closes, saying, “I sincerely hope that this note will soothe any hurt feelings.”
this is getting totally out of hand.
how come its okay for people to wear kimonos, native american feathers, sombreros, etc. hallwoeen (or purim, lhavdil) but this is so insulting? i dont get it.
hissid dov is a public figure and political he should be smarter, and apologize for his stupidity. I am almost sure if a black politician would dress up as a chussid there would be an uproar
We invite everyone to come to Brooklyn on Purim. Next year, come one come all, and take a good look at Purim. Then, we will revisit this issue. Mr. Hikind has no past issues with racism and it is wrong to comment until one sees Purim up close.
This Shindermnan such a baloney. Thinks by jumping on Hikind on racial issues, will make him ‘better’.
What business does that fool have butting in? This is nothing that is in his purview.
I saw people dressed up as Chinese, as Puritan Pilgrims, as superheros, as chassidim. Why is it when the “African Americans” are depicted, we get out of joint? By the way, I know someone whose family was from Morocco. They wanted to be listed as African Americans, but were denied. Hmmm. Double standard? Yes. For sure. Dov is a good man. All this does is show that we have a widespread case of racism masquerading as liberalism. Same sickness, different manifestation.
I came to the conclusion this is a political set up. Some people tries to set this guy up. It just don’t make any sense what’s going on here. Everyone knows it’s Purim we all dress up and they say again and again apologize. Apologize for what ????????
Dov Hikind does not have a racist bone in his body. Where are all of his close
black friends coming to defend him? This has been totally blown out of proportion.
To clarify for the people who don’t seem to understand the severity of this, dressing up in blackface (historically used to demean and attack black people in minstrel shows) would be the equivalent of another politician wearing swastikas ~as a costume~. He should definitely be apologizing right and left for his ignorance, especially since he’s well known for his own embargo against anti-Semitic actions in the past.
To all readers, that’s a sign that Mr. Hikind is vary popular out there , if so i have a message for Mr. Hikind keep up your good work for the community these people just are looking to take away the attention of what your good work is about, Mr. Hikind i am proud of you please don’t let these idiots get in your way.
Whats wrong with someone dressing up as a black basketball player. Is there really another kind anyway? It’s a fact not an insult. If I could why wouldn’t I want to wear a Michel Jordan or Magic Johnson mask? Is that racial?
There are enough tensions and problems between Black and Jews, without adding fuel to the fire. Have people forgotten the Crown Heights riots of 1991, or other smaller incidents which have occurred since that time? This incident involving Dov Hikind has already been picked up by the national news media. One would have thought that someone, such as Hikind, who looks to protect Yidden, would have used better judgment. It is true that people dress up as different ethnic groups on Purim. However, in this particular incident, with various racial incidents which occur around the country, and with the current racial climate, as well as ongoing community problems, it WAS NOT COOL for Hikind to have dressed in this manner. Whether we agree with his choice or not, we must face reality. What if chas v’shalom, his dressing up in blackface leads to another riot, where Yidden are killed? Therefore, all Yidden of good will, should condemn Hikind’s stupidity, and insensitivity!
Facebook is the cause of this. His son should never have posted the photo on Facebook and shouldn’t even have Facebook. No reason for a frum Jew to be on Facebook.
I would think that black people would be honored that Dov Hikind decided that he wants to look like one…
i think the news had a boring day, because why else would they report a ridiculous report like this
Leave the man alone. He did toting wrong.
Perhaps not the most brilliant idea, but definitely not racist or wrong.
The fact that Dov feels that he has to issue an apology shows what kind of twisted climate of political correctness we live in these days. This past Holloween, when a Puerto Rican family in my area dressed up as an orthodox Jewish family, (tzitzit, kippa, and all!) should we have raised the roof? Of course not! Mr. Hikind is a family person. Subject to the exact same rules of decency as all the rest of us are. To harrass Dov for living his life as the rest of us is nothing more than a political witch hunt.
Hikind is responsive legislator who’s right there for the community.
I think his choice of costume — of all the zillions of choices he had — showed not-great judgment. But what troubles me more is that someone took and posted these photos!
If it was an enemy who did this, shame on you. If it was not an enemy, think before you click, and then think again.
And to those who have never done anything really stoopid on Purim, I don’t believe you.
Time to move on. He apologized. Everyone can go home now.
This is no longer a Free Country, and there is no longer Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression. Hikind did not dress up with a black face to imitate the racist black faced stereotypes of the past or to mock Black people. He dressed up as a Black Basket ball player as an excersize in absurdity which is what purim costimes are all about. Any one with a half a brain should understand that. All those politicians including gay lover shelly silver should be sticking up for Dov instead of throwing him to the wolves. This is indeed Political Correctness run Amock and it threatens and denies our very liberty. Anyone who knows Dov knows he is not a racist and knows he is a sensitive human being who would never want to belittle a black person or any other minority. This is beginning to sound like an idiot who posted on another site that we should not wear Knight costimes because Knights were anti semitic.
Any politician has to use common sense and sensitivity in all areas of his life. Once you are in public office you no longer represent a private entity and everything you do is under public scrutiny. Apologies are a dime a dozen. Not having to apologize for inappropriate actions is called integrity.
I am SHOCKED over the outrage over all this. If I saw Hikind dressed like this, I would never think anything bad. If he was holding even a fake gun, it might be offensive But dressed as a black basketball player? There are FAR offensive ways people dress up on Holloween. If I were black, I would not be offended at all. In fact, might be a compliment that a white person wants to dress up as a black man! We love you Dov HIkind! All those politicians criticizing him should be half as great as he is, as a person AND a politician.
Comment from Huffington Post article – from someone named Shylyei –
“As a black woman, I see nothing wrong with this. Sheesh I am so tired of the race card being crammed down everyone’s throat over something so minor. “
Shame on Sheldon Silver for attacking Dov!
This fallout is unbelievable — sensitivities run amok. On Purim we play make-believe. It’s part and parcel of the holiday. So if we choose to dress up as Michael Jackson or Pocahontas or a Japanese empress, are we being offensive to any of their respective cultures? Nonsense! Hikind’s pretending to be a black basket-ball player should be seen as flattering to the black basket-ball player — unless Dov Hikind had a nasty run-in with one in the past. Then it may feasibly be construed as mockery. I personally saw nothing wrong with Galliano’s getup (didn’t resemble chassidic garb, in my opinion) and it only raised ire due to Galliano’s unsavory past. Furthermore, Purim masqueraders have been blackening their faces for as far back as I can recall — not to mimic blacks but for its effectiveness in concealing the wearer’s identity. Dov Hikind was not being disrespectful yet had no choice but to apologize. Lesson for the day: Stay off Facebook, kids. You never know when your own posting will come back to haunt you.
This is an attempt to delegitimize Purim. The secular left view the entire idea of celebrating victory over our enemies as wrong. Next year they will be in our communities taking photos of dressed up kids and calling our community racist. Stay tuned!
any man over 50 who dresses up that way even on Purim ,has a problem ,Dov time to get back to basics just try to keep your district clean and safe ,your not the ambassador to the U.N. maybe you should retire already,move to a nice settlement in the shomron and scream at Arabs a whole day
If a black person would do this, you would all cry foul. Stop making excuses for our people! He was wrong and needs to realize this before we are all in trouble. He’s supposed to be a leader and leaders don’t insult entire groups of people. And next year, if he dresses as a gay man, I predict his career will be finished.
I dont think it was his wifes idea, why would someone say that
This is such a non-issue. Every year on Purim we all see silly costumes that, if someone really wants to get insulted, he will be. Some costumes can be stretched to be insulting to shvartzes (Obama was a particularly popular “victim” a year ago), some by Indians, some to Japanese sumo wrestlers, or to all Japanese because why would you depict them so stereotypically? Not to mention the the stupid fake shtreimels with fake curly payos. There is absolutely nothing wrong with what Hikind did.
However, there is some measure poetic justice in what happened. Hikind is a Democrat and is getting punished by exactly the same groupthink that his vile party has been inflicting on anybody stupid enough to be susceptible, which of course means most people. So I don’t feel sorry for him, even if on this particular occasion he did absolutely nothing that anybody not subject to the groupthink would find wrong.
I have often thought about this issue. Where is the line between potential insult & good fun?
I wanted to dress up as A Rastafarian but was afraid my neighbor would be offended (as he is from the Caribbean & has dreadlocks).
Is dressing up as a China man on Purim ok in Brooklyn; what if you were in China?
In all seriousness. There is a fine line and it depends a lot on intent, who you are, where you are and probably the exact subject matter.
I have previously dressed up as a Golliwog; an Arab; and a bunch of other potentially insulting characters but in today’s ultra P.C. society I doubt I can get away with it anymore.