New York City ? A group of New York City religious, community and political leaders Thursday declared Nov. 29 “Day Against Hate” to protest a rash of bias crimes across the city, including two at Columbia University involving a noose and a swastika.

Besides Columbia, nooses have been discovered in recent weeks at a post office in lower Manhattan, and in several locations on Long Island. Several homes and synagogues also have been defaced with swastikas. Quinn said that compared to last year reports of hate crimes in New York City are up almost 21 percent.