Governor Kathy Hochul has been memorialized to proclaim January 27, 2024, as Holocaust Remembrance Day across the state. This resolution, introduced by Senator Thomas, underscores the importance of remembering the tragic events that led to the loss of 6 million Jews and millions of others during the Nazi Holocaust from 1933 to 1945.
The resolution aims to increase awareness and ensure that the horrors of the Holocaust are never forgotten, aligning with the observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It highlights the systematic genocide and the stripping of rights and properties from Jews in Eastern and Central Europe, noting the significant impact in countries such as Poland, where the Jewish death toll exceeded 90 percent.
The year 2024 marks the 91st anniversary of the beginning of the genocide of European Jews, a period described as the darkest in human civilization’s history. The resolution emphasizes the importance of remembering these events to prevent their recurrence and to promote respect and common humanity.
January 27 was designated as International Holocaust Remembrance Day by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005, marking the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, by Soviet troops in 1945. The resolution also notes the 79th anniversary of this liberation and recognizes remembrance ceremonies held worldwide, including at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., and at the United Nations in New York City.
State Senator Bill Weber expressed his support for the resolution in the Senate chamber, emphasizing the necessity of remembering the six million Jewish victims and millions of others murdered by the Nazi regime. He highlighted the importance of the phrases “Never Forget” and “Never Again” as more than just slogans but as a commitment to stand against hatred and bigotry.
The resolution calls for education and remembrance, especially as Holocaust survivors diminish in number, to ensure future generations understand the events and root causes of the Holocaust. It concludes with the directive for a suitably engrossed copy of the resolution to be transmitted to Governor Kathy Hochul, urging the formal proclamation of January 27, 2024, as Holocaust Remembrance Day in New York State, in a collective stand to ensure such atrocities never happen again.