New York Approves Permanent Holocaust Memorial at Empire State Plaza

ALBANY — New York will establish a permanent Holocaust memorial at the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza, under legislation signed Monday by Governor Kathy Hochul. The measure, S5784/A7614, directs the state to create a memorial honoring Holocaust victims and survivors amid a national rise in antisemitism.

“With the first ever state-sponsored Holocaust Memorial, we are honoring the victims and survivors while ensuring visitors have a place to remember and reflect,” Hochul said. “New York has zero tolerance for hate of any kind.”

The state Office of General Services will oversee the memorial’s design, programming, and placement on the Albany plaza, which already houses several major monuments. Officials say the site will serve as an educational space for students and the public, underscoring the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and intolerance.

State Sen. Patricia Fahy, who sponsored the bill, said the memorial gives real meaning to the words “Never Again.” Assemblymember Gabriella Romero, the Assembly sponsor, called the project a vital statement at a time of rising hate. Lawmakers stressed the importance of providing a dedicated place for reflection in the state capital.

The legislation was praised by the Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial organization, which has long advocated for a permanent state-backed site. Its president, Dan Dembling, said the memorial is urgently needed as antisemitic rhetoric and incidents climb.

The initiative builds on Hochul’s broader effort to combat hate and bias across New York. The FY26 budget includes $35 million for the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes program, and the state has launched the nation’s first statewide plan to fight antisemitism. Recent laws also require every college campus in New York to appoint a Title VI coordinator to address discrimination.

State officials say planning for the new memorial will begin immediately.