Text size:

Levy apologizes to family of Patchogue stabbing victim

BY REID J. EPSTEIN |

November 19, 2008

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy yesterday for the first time apologized directly to the family of the Ecuadorean man killed in a Patchogue hate-crime stabbing for calling the assault "a one-day story" and urged "people of goodwill" to denounce intolerance.

"It was a mistake for me to make that comment because it could appear to trivialize the tragic death of Mr. Lucero, and for that, I humbly apologize to his family," he said. "My strong and immediate denouncing of the act was a clear indication that trivializing this event was the last thing I wanted to do."

In a 12-minute address on News 12 that invoked President-elect Barack Obama, the destruction of Jewish-owned stores in Nazi Germany and segregation on Long Island, Levy declared that he hoped the death of Marcelo Lucero, 37, would not be in vain. Prosecutors charge that Lucero, who died Nov. 8, was attacked by seven teenagers, one of whom was charged with manslaughter as a hate crime. The others face gang assault charges.

"The best message we can send to those who think as this small mob did is that they will be met by a wall of people of all colors and all political perspectives who will fight for what is morally right and oppose intimidation and physical violence," Levy said.

The second-term executive, who spoke from the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge, also pledged to be more sensitive in his comments about immigration-related issues.

But Levy, who launched a group of elected officials opposed to illegal immigration, defended his longtime policies and said the community's healing process should begin across ideological lines. "The battle lines should not be drawn between those supporting or not supporting differing immigration policies," he said. "Instead, they should be between the likes of those who killed Marcelo Lucero and all people of goodwill who will stand up to evil."

In Gualaceo, the Ecuador neighborhood where Lucero grew up, neighbors reacted to Levy's comments with skepticism.

"He should be more focused on us as human beings," said Benito Blandin Coeller.

"We are the cheap labor force" for people on Long Island, Blandin said.

Levy also tried to assure immigrants that Suffolk police will not ask crime victims their immigration status.

He said police "do not ask a victim's immigration status. We are committed to equal enforcement of the law and equal police service to all, regardless of immigration status."

The statement comes four years after Levy's 2004 proposal to deputize Suffolk police to detain undocumented immigrants solely on the basis of immigration status. In the face of political and police opposition, Levy abandoned the plan.

Patrick Young, the program director of the Central American Refugee Center in Hempstead, said he hopes Levy understands that immigrants are afraid to call Suffolk police because of his immigration policies.

"This isn't something that was made up as part of a political agenda," Young said. "This is really how people in the Latino community feel."

The Rev. Allan Ramirez, of Brookville Reformed Church, said Levy missed an opportunity to take responsibility for his words and policies. "He could have seized the moment to say, 'Forgive me. My words may have contributed to this,'" he said. "A community that is deeply faithful and religious wants to forgive, yet they can't find him wanting to repent."

The chairman of Levy's Hispanic Advisory Board, Alexander Gutierrez of Ronkonkoma, said the speech was "successful in all aspects."

"What he wants to do, like all of us, is start to develop a healing process," Gutierrez said. "He knows that we do have an issue. He wants to do something about it."

Staff writers Erik German on Long Island and Bart Jones in Ecuador contributed to this story.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

My heart and prayers go out to Marcelo's family, friends and neighbors, as do the prayers of people of goodwill from all across the county. We all stand united, and speak loudly with one voice, when we say that the brutal killing of this innocent, hardworking man for no other reason than he was Hispanic is a dark and reprehensible moment for our county.

For justice to occur - and for people to have faith in our system of justice - victims must never fear reporting a crime.

I want to assure every person in Suffolk County tonight, our police department treats victims with respect, compassion and with the sole purpose of catching the person or persons who committed the crime. They do not ask a victim's immigration status. We are committed to equal enforcement of the law and equal police service to all, regardless of immigration status.

When hate crimes have occurred in Suffolk County, I have stood with the police and our community to send the united message that the small-minded actions of a few will not go without swift repudiation, justice and prosecution. Whether they have occurred on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual orientation, I have used my voice and the profile of my office to speak out against intolerant acts.

There have been attempts by some to link this crime to the volatile debates we've seen on the immigration issue. We must be careful not to be swept into such linkage - for doing so masks the true, insidious roots of hate.

Legal immigration is a wonderful thing that has made - and continues to make - our nation great. It should be expanded. Illegal immigration is something I and many others oppose. But opposition to the policy of illegal immigration must never allow individuals to justify acts of violence. For to do so would make them no different than those who gleefully participated in the Kristallnacht atrocities.

Likewise, advocates for those here illegally should not disparage those opposed to the illegal immigration policy as being bigoted or intolerant.

I was heartbroken to see Suffolk County - our county, my home - portrayed as it was on national media after this crime. The Village of Patchogue is a tolerant, diverse community. One of the successes of the village's downtown renaissance is that Patchogue has continued to accept, embrace and include its diversity as a vital part of its identity. It would be so unjust for folks to believe this behavior is either normal or unique to our area.

Hopefully, Marcelo Lucero's death will not be in vain. Perhaps it can be the spark for all of us - yours truly included - to admit our faults, to work more closely with one another, to pay more attention to what our children are doing, and to pay more attention to what we say. Words do matter, and I will do all I can to help ensure that my words are as sensitive as possible toward meeting our goal to heal and to unite.