New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today issued the following statement regarding the discovery of a spray-painted racial epithet inside the Kings County Surrogate’s Court House concerning Judge Diana Johnson:

“It’s a sad day when this kind of filth invades our halls of justice. It is shameful that someone felt comfortable enough to invoke such hate against a sitting judge. No one should be referred to in this manner in a civilized society.

Unfortunately all too often lately we are hearing about these episodes of racism, anti-Semitism and hatred seeping into our world.

These acts should not be allowed to run rampant without yielding the swiftest and harshest of repercussions. The person or persons responsible must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

All of us must send a clear message that these deplorable actions – whether they are words spray-painted on our walls or beatings inflicted on our streets and subways – must stop now.

We cannot let these actions breed fear and hatred. Instead, our words and our actions must build hope and promise.

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