New York state memorial to honor Holocaust victims & survivors

Legislation creates permanent Holocaust Memorial at Empire State Plaza in Albany; site will honor victims & survivors

Submitted by the Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul

Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation to establish a New York state memorial at the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza in Albany to recognize victims and survivors of the Holocaust. Amid a rise in antisemitism in New York state and across the nation, the memorial will educate students and the public about the Holocaust, and serve as a reminder of the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and all manifestations of intolerance.

“With the first ever state-sponsored Holocaust Memorial, we are honoring the victims and survivors of the Holocaust while ensuring that all visitors have a place to remember and reflect on what the Jewish community has endured,” Hochul said. “New York has zero tolerance for hate of any kind, and with this memorial we reaffirm our commitment to rooting out antisemitism and ensuring a peaceful and thriving future for all.”

Legislation S5784/A7614 directs the state Office of General Services (OGS) to oversee the design, programming and location on the Empire State Plaza in Albany of the New York Holocaust Memorial. The memorial will join others on the plaza that are special sites of remembrance and tribute, offering visitors the opportunity to reflect on issues that touch the core of society.

New York State OGS Commissioner Jeanette Moy said, “OGS is proud to care for and maintain the memorials at the Empire State Plaza that honor New Yorkers. This new memorial dedicated to victims of the Holocaust will not only ensure their memory lives on, but will also serve as a permanent reminder of our collective responsibility to stand against injustice and intolerance in our state.”

State Sen. Patricia Fahy said, “When we say, ‘Never Again’, we need to act in order for those words to have meaning. Creating a dedicated Holocaust Memorial where survivors, family members, and our broader community can gather to reflect and remember will memorialize the 6 million Jews and millions of others who died at the hands of the Nazism, fascism, and the banality of evil. Intolerance and prejudice only persist and spread when good people stand by and do nothing, and this memorial cements New York's and the Capital Region's commitment to combatting hate wherever it may hide.”

Assembly member Gabriella Romero said, “As the sponsor of this legislation, I am deeply proud to help bring this memorial to life. At a time when hate is rising, New York must choose clarity – and with this bill, we choose remembrance, education and action. This memorial ensures that the stories of courage, loss and resilience are permanently woven into the civic life of our Capital City.”

Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial President Dan Dembling said, “Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial Inc. is deeply grateful to Gov. Hochul for making the dream of establishing a state-sponsored permanent Holocaust memorial in New York a reality. We commend Sen. Fahy and Assembly member Romero for introducing this important legislation. Since our organization’s founding by Dr. Michael Lozman, we have been dedicated to creating a permanent space in the Capital Region to honor the victims of the Holocaust and educate future generations. At this time when antisemitism is so high and rhetoric is reminiscent of the Nazi era, the need to remember the Holocaust is critically important. As envisioned, this memorial will have statewide impact by helping to educate people about the consequences of prejudice left unchecked, and hopefully inspire New Yorkers to stand up against hate in all its forms. We’re looking forward to working together with the New York State Office of General Services in the planning and development of this vitally important New York state landmark.”

In the FY26 enacted budget, Hochul secured $35 million for the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes (SCAHC) program. These grants provide funding to boost safety and security for certain organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs or mission.

Under Hochul’s leadership, New York launched America’s first-ever statewide plan to combat antisemitism, and directed the New York State Division of Human Rights to establish the Hate and Bias Prevention Unit (HBPU) to help communities combat prejudice and discrimination. Most recently, the governor signed legislation requiring every New York state college campus to designate a Title VI coordinator to address discrimination.