Proposed legislation would bring Holocaust memorial to Empire State Plaza
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New, proposed legislation would bring a permanent New York State Holocaust memorial to the Empire State Plaza. Sen. Patricia Fahy and Assemblymember Gabriella Romero are co-sponsoring the measure.
New York State has the highest population of Jewish people outside of Israel; however, there is no state-sponsored Holocaust memorial in the state. The Holocaust took place during World War II and was carried out by Nazi Germany and its allies and collaborators. Around 6 million Jews and other people were killed.
“When we say, ‘Never Again,' we need to act in order for those words to have meaning," Sen. Fahy said. “Creating a dedicated Holocaust Memorial where survivors, family members, and our broader community can gather to reflect and remember will memorialize the six million Jews and millions of others who died at the hands of the Nazis, fascism, and the Banality of Evil."
“As the eldest survivors grow older, preserving and sharing their stories – while honoring the memory of those lost – is more important than ever,” Am. Romero said. “We must learn from the tragedies of history and recognize those dark times so that we continue to fight prejudice and intolerance moving forward. This memorial will be a tribute to the lives lost, but it is also a testament to the survivors who are still teaching and inspiring us.”
A Holocaust memorial in the town of Niskayuna has been in the works for over five years. It is spearheaded by the group Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial.
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