NYC Politicians Advocate for Permanent Oct. 7 Memorial in Brooklyn
A push is underway by local officials to establish a permanent memorial in Brooklyn to honor the victims of the October 7th Hamas attack, though approval from the city Parks Department is pending.
New York City politicians are seeking to establish a permanent memorial in Brooklyn to commemorate the victims of Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack. The initiative, spearheaded by State Sen. Sam Sutton (D-Brooklyn), aims to ensure that the memory of those lost is preserved for future generations.
"Those who were stolen from us will never be forgotten," Sutton stated at a press conference on Wednesday, marking the third anniversary of the attack. He emphasized the importance of confronting hatred and antisemitism, asserting, "We refuse to standby while ancient antisemitism hides behind modern slogans. Let them hear us clearly today. We will not be intimidated."
The Oct. 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in Israel, including several with ties to the New York tri-state area, such as Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old IDF tank commander and Long Island native.
Several Jewish elected officials, including City Comptroller Mark Levine, City Council Speaker Julie Menin, and Rep. Dan Goldman, attended the press conference. They have proposed a roughly 6x6-foot memorial to be situated at Mickey Kairey Garden in Gravesend, Brooklyn.
Organizers plan to fund the memorial's design, construction, and ongoing maintenance through private donations. However, the project requires approval from the city Parks Department, which is overseen by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a noted critic of Israel. Neither the Parks Department nor City Hall had responded to requests for comment.
Mickey Kairey Garden is named after Meyer “Mickey” Kairey, a World War II combat medic who participated in the liberation of concentration camps and founded the Magen David Synagogue in Bensonhurst.
"For so many families in our community, October 7 is personal. A permanent memorial will ensure that the memory of those we lost remains alive for generations to come," said local Democratic District Leader Joey Saban, who is also supporting the memorial proposal.