New York to establish Holocaust Memorial at Empire State Plaza

Legislation establishes a Holocaust memorial at Albany’s Empire State Plaza to honor victims and survivors and promote education against antisemitism and intolerance

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York will establish a Holocaust Memorial at the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza to recognize victims and survivors of the Holocaust under legislation signed Thursday by Governor Kathy Hochul.

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“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,” Governor Hochul said in a release. “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.” 

The state Office of General Services will oversee the design, programming, and placement of the memorial. State officials said the site aims to educate students and the public about the Holocaust amid rising antisemitism in New York and nationwide.

“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,” New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy said.

“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,” said Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial President Dan Dembling.

The memorial will join other remembrance sites on the plaza and offer visitors a space to reflect and remember the victims and survivors.