A pair of state legislators from the Capital Region are introducing legislation to establish a New York State Holocaust Memorial near the state Capitol on the Empire State Plaza in Albany. 

Sen. Patricia Fahy and Assemblymember Gabriella Romero said in a joint statement Wednesday the site would memorialize the millions of Jews and other victims of the Nazi Holocaust during World War II; teach about the dangers of antisemitism and racism; and provide visitors to the state Capitol an opportunity to learn lessons from Jewish history.

The effort grew out of a plan to construct a Capital Region Holocaust Memorial in Niskayuna. The legislation would direct the commissioner of the state Office of General Services to erect a monument in Empire State Plaza.

Daniel Dembling, president of the Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial, lauded the effort.

“Since our organization’s founding, 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 a time when antisemitism and hate are on the rise, it is more critical than ever to provide students and the public with the tools to understand the devastating consequences of unchecked hatred," Dembling said.

Fahy said that while New York has the highest population of Jewish people outside of Israel, New York does not have a state-sponsored Holocaust Memorial in the state.

“When we say, ‘Never Again’, we need to act in order for those words to have meaning,” Fahy said.  

"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,” Assemblymember Gabriella Romero said.