NYC Gazette

Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny (R,C-Coney Island) addressed the Assembly Chamber earlier this week, emphasizing the significance of Holocaust Remembrance Day amid increasing antisemitism in New York City. A dedicated advocate for the Jewish community, Brook-Krasny has backed several initiatives, including the Stop Anti-Semitism on College Campuses Act (A.8284), aimed at combating anti-Jewish hate.

Since the terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel in October last year, the NYPD reported a surge in antisemitic hate crimes, with more incidents recorded in one month than over nearly two years. Between September and October, New York City experienced a 330% increase in such crimes. Brook-Krasny stressed the importance of remembering past atrocities to prevent their recurrence.

“Whenever I speak on Holocaust Remembrance Day, I feel a great responsibility,” said Brook-Krasny. “Every year, I make a point to talk about this issue of empowering my community and pushing back against antisemitism. However, I never would have thought in 2024, these remarks would be looked down upon. Since the senseless terrorist attacks on innocent Israeli citizens on October 7, the world has changed. Our country has changed, our state has changed and the City of New York has changed,” he added.

“In the last few months, we’ve seen an unprecedented rise in antisemitic crimes across our city. The philosopher George Santayana once famously said, ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ It’s time for New York to wake up and stand against antisemitism so history does not repeat itself once again,” Brook-Krasny continued.