The city has taken down a plaque commemorating Pierre Laval, a Nazi collaborator, from Broadway’s Valley of Heroes, deeming it a “tripping hazard.” However, Jewish organizations are expressing outrage at the city’s intention to put it back up, according to sources on Friday.
Menachem Rosensaft, legal advisor emeritus for the World Jewish Congress, criticized the decision, saying, “It would be like putting asbestos back into the building. It’s even worse than ignoring it.”
The plaque, which celebrates Laval—who sent 70,000 Jews from France to concentration camps during World War II—was removed last November for safety reasons, as previously reported by various sources.
The plaque, part of a collection that also included 28 others taken down due to sidewalk ice and shifting pavement, is set to return to Lower Broadway after repairs are made.
However, Rosenzaft and other advocates argue for the complete removal of the Laval plaque, as well as that of Henri-Philippe Pétain, another Nazi collaborator from France.
“These two are not heroes at all. They’re the opposite. They’re villains in the truest sense of the word,” he remarked.
He outlined their involvement in the Holocaust, noting that they were pivotal in the detainment and deportation of many Jews to Nazi camps like Auschwitz between 1942 and 1943.
Rosenzaft, who also teaches law at Cornell, stressed, “There is no ambiguity. After the war in 1945, they were tried and convicted as war criminals.”
These plaques were initially installed in Manhattan’s Canyon of Heroes, which honors various notable figures, back in 1931 before their collaboration with the Nazis became apparent.
According to Rosenzaft, an agreement was reached during Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration to add plaques next to the names of Laval and Pétain to give context to their actions, although this plan never materialized.
He expressed his disbelief that convicted war criminals could still receive public tribute in New York City, calling it an insult to Holocaust victims.
In November, the area around the Laval plaque had to be closed due to it creating a tripping hazard, as noted by Andrew Breslau from the Downtown Alliance. This removal was first reported by a news source.
Recent snowstorms caused additional damage, leading to the removal of 25 other plaques, while three more were taken down in 2025 for construction purposes.
Laval served as Prime Minister during the ticker parade in Manhattan on October 22, 1931. He was executed for war crimes in 1945.
Pétain, meanwhile, lived until 1951, dying in prison approximately 20 years after his own parade.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levin has also advocated for the removal of these plaques, stating, “Nazi collaborators are just insane.”
A spokesperson from City Hall hasn’t responded to inquiries regarding the issue. Similarly, representatives from the Downtown Alliance have not commented.
