With the commemoration of the “devastating anniversary,” Clarke stated, “let it remind every of us that Israelis and Palestinians need to stay in dignity, security and safety. In reminiscence of all these harmless people who we’ve got misplaced, and in full consideration of all these we hope to avoid wasting, it’s time to embrace an enduring ceasefire and to, in the end, start strolling the trail in direction of peace.”
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, whose father hails from Trinidad and Tobago, recalled that on Oct. 7 final yr, “we witnessed an unimaginable tragedy, the place violence erupted and hundreds of Israeli civilians and households had been misplaced.
“Immediately represents a day of remembrance and reflection to honor the lives of these we misplaced as we vow to always remember,” she stated. “In moments like this, we should come collectively as a metropolis and do not forget that power lies in our unity, and we should embrace our shared humanity.
“We should stand with our Jewish group throughout this time of feelings, grief, sorrow and compassion for everybody affected,” she urged. “We now have seen far an excessive amount of hate and violence and elevated antisemitism, and we should reject hate in all kinds and as an alternative foster communities grounded in love and respect.
“What we noticed within the days and weeks following Oct. 7 had been communities united with our Jewish neighbors, standing shoulder to shoulder,” she added, stating that she has seen her borough “come collectively within the spirit of unity, overcoming division and as an alternative constructing bridges.”
As Bronx Borough President, Gibson stated it’s her purpose “to assist construct a borough the place all individuals can stay, worship and specific themselves with out concern.
“We are going to proceed to work in direction of a shared group for our kids who’re the lights that shine as a beacon of hope for a peaceable society,” she stated. “Allow us to honor the reminiscence of these family members and pals we misplaced. Allow us to proceed to construct bridges. Allow us to proceed to reject hate in all kinds.
“Allow us to proceed to help our Jewish communities and concentrate on what unites us,” Gibson added. “Allow us to proceed to demand the return of all of the hostages. Allow us to proceed to struggle for peace right here at house and in Israel.”
Photo courtesy Workplace of New York State Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn
Brooklyn Democratic Get together Chair, Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, stated that: “On this somber anniversary of the Oct. 7 assault on Israel, my coronary heart is heavy as I be a part of our communities in mourning the deadliest assault within the nation’s historical past.
“Hamas’ atrocious assault on harmless civilians throughout one of many holiest Jewish holidays was an act of cowardice,” stated the consultant for the 42nd Meeting District in Brooklyn. “I be a part of our nation in unequivocally condemning this inhumane terrorist assault that killed some 1,200 individuals, largely civilians.”
She famous that New York, house to the most important Jewish group outdoors of Israel, “feels the burden of this tragedy deeply.
“We should proceed to fight rising anti-Semitic hate crimes, and luxury our neighbors dealing with the unspeakable uncertainty of the protection of the almost 100 hostages nonetheless held captive by Hamas,” Bichotte Hermelyn stated. “Each day, we pray for the secure return of those harmless civilians and should proceed to demand their unconditional launch.
“We lengthen our unwavering help to the Jewish individuals of their homeland and their proper to self-defense,” she added. “This assault has precipitated anguish and destruction in a Center East now shattered by a widening battle that has killed tens of hundreds.
“As we replicate on this tragic day, we pray in unity for peace,” Bichotte Hermelyn continued.
New York Metropolis Council Speaker Adrienne Adams stated that “the horrific occasions of that day, and those who adopted, have introduced immense ache and grief that proceed to reverberate all through our communities right here in New York Metropolis.
“The cycles of violence inflicted on households threaten to go away behind trauma that will probably be felt for generations,” she stated. “My coronary heart is heavy, and I mourn with those that misplaced family members and whose lives have been eternally altered.
“As we mark this somber event, we’ll proceed to honor the victims of the Oct. 7 assaults and name for the return of remaining hostages who’ve been taken from their households,” Speaker Adams added. “On this second, we should proceed to acknowledge our shared humanity and demand that peace is feasible, and work to attain the collective safety it might deliver that every one individuals deserve.”
On Monday, New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams ordered that metropolis flags be lowered to half-staff, and Metropolis Corridor and different municipal buildings lit yellow Monday night “in remembrance of 1 yr for the reason that horrific terror assaults perpetrated by Hamas in Israel on Oct. 7, in addition to in advocacy for the secure return of hostages nonetheless held captive by Hamas.
“One yr in the past as we speak, individuals of all faiths and creeds gathered on the Nova Music Competition in Israel to sing songs of peace and coexistence. With the brutal homicide of greater than 1,200 harmless males, girls and kids by cowardly terrorists, part of all of us died that day,” the mayor stated. “Lots of extra had been taken hostage within the aftermath, and lots of nonetheless stay in captivity as we speak.
“And as we see the devastation wrought on harmless individuals within the Center East within the aftermath of this unprovoked assault, the considered peace turns into much more distant,” he added. “However that’s precisely why we should proceed to try for peace — for the secure return of all the hostages, for the defeat of Hamas, and for an finish to this lethal battle.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul had additionally ordered that flags on State buildings be flown at half-staff from dawn to sundown on Monday “in mourning and honor of the victims of the assault on Israel one yr in the past.”
Moreover, the governor directed landmarks to be illuminated in yellow in solidarity with Israel and the hostages nonetheless in captivity.
“One yr after the horrific atrocities dedicated in opposition to the individuals of Israel, my coronary heart goes out to the victims and their households,” Hochul stated. “New York stands with Israel — as we speak and day-after-day.
“As the house of the most important Jewish inhabitants outdoors of Israel, we’ll do all the pieces in our energy to defend in opposition to the forces of hatred and stand firmly in opposition to those that perpetuate it,” she added.
In a White Home assertion, Democratic Presidential Nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris, the daughter of retired Jamaican-born economist Dr. Donald Harris, stated she’s going to “always remember the horror of Oct. 7, 2023, noting that 1,200 harmless individuals, together with 46 People, had been “massacred by Hamas terrorists, girls raped on the facet of the highway, 250 individuals kidnapped.
“It was the deadliest day for the Jewish individuals for the reason that Holocaust,” she stated. “What Hamas did that day was pure evil; it was brutal and sickening. And it has rekindled a deep concern among the many Jewish individuals not simply in Israel however in the USA and around the globe.
“The lengthy, extraordinary arc of Jewish historical past is filled with pogroms and prejudice, slaughter and separation,” Harris famous. “And now, in our personal era, there may be one other second that the world should always remember.
“I’m devastated by the loss and ache of the Israeli individuals on account of the heinous Oct. 7 assault,” she added. “Doug and I pray for the households of the victims and hope they discover solace in remembering the lives their family members lived.
“We additionally pray for the protection of Jewish individuals all around the globe,” the US vice chairman continued. “All of us should guarantee nothing just like the horrors of Oct. 7 ever occur once more. I’ll do all the pieces in my energy to make sure that the risk Hamas poses is eradicated, that it’s by no means once more capable of govern Gaza, that it fails in its mission to annihilate Israel, and that the individuals of Gaza are free from the grip of Hamas.”
Harris additionally stated she’s going to by no means cease preventing for the discharge of all of the hostages, together with the seven Americans, dwelling and deceased, nonetheless held: Omer, Edan, Sagui, Keith, Judy, Gad, and Itay.
“I’ll by no means cease preventing for justice for individuals who murdered Hersh Goldberg-Polin and different People,” she pledged. “And I’ll at all times guarantee Israel has what it must defend itself in opposition to Iran and Iran-backed terrorists like Hamas. My dedication to the safety of Israel is unwavering.
