NEW YORK, NY May 22, 2008 —Black and Jewish officials are standing together to fight the recent spike in Crown Heights violence.

State Assemblyman Dov Hikind says the six-month-old Black-Jewish alliance of politicians is alarmed by bias crimes, up 20 percent from this time last year.

Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz says elected officials can only do so much. He's calling on residents to take an active role in keeping the peace.

MARKOWITZ: We call upon the parents in Crown Heights to discipline those kids. Teach them right from wrong. Teach them respect. Teach them to celebrate diversity.

In 1991, during three days of riots scores of civilians and police officers were injured in the Brooklyn neighborhood.