Assembly Speaker Blocks Commemoration Bill for October 7 Attack

ALBANY – Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has quashed a bipartisan bill intended to commemorate the tragic attack on Israel that occurred on October 7, 2023.

On Friday, Heastie took significant steps to ensure the bill would not make it to Congress for a vote, leaning on allies and committee members to vote against it, according to sources.

The bill, initiated by Republican Representative Leicester Chan, aimed to designate October 7 as a commemoration day similar to “Rosa Parks Day” and “Susan B. Anthony Day.”

Sources indicated that Heastie, a key figure among Democrats, seemed unwilling to support a bill prominently backed by Republicans, even though several Democrats co-sponsored it.

“You shouldn’t be controversial just because I’m a Republican,” Chan noted.

Chan expressed his dismay, stating, “It’s ugly. It’s destructive. It’s harmful to both sides,” emphasizing the significance of remembering the 1,200 victims of the attack.

This legislative derailment occurred amidst a week of tense behind-the-scenes discussions, culminating in Heastie’s last-minute decision to advance a resolution honoring Palestinian Americans instead.

In another move, the Chamber of Commerce’s Methods and Means Committee also rejected similar memorial proposals, including one from Rep. Ali Brown, who sought to mandate that New York schools observe October 7.

Brown, who is Jewish, criticized the Democrats for what he termed “veiled anti-Semitism.” He asserted, “If this was a bill for the Black or Hispanic community, it would have been passed with praise and fanfare. This is not just a disturbance; it feels like a betrayal of the Jewish minority.”

Other lawmakers voiced similar frustrations regarding the perceived political maneuvering behind the Democrats’ rejection of these bills.

“It’s especially disappointing to see the bill dismissed for purely political reasons,” stated Rep. Ed Ra, a Republican leading the Ways and Means Committee.

As events unfolded, the rift within New York politics regarding the October 7 attacks and the ongoing war in Gaza became more evident, particularly in relation to the New York City mayoral race.

Andrew Cuomo, traditionally a Democrat, positioned himself as a staunch advocate for Israel, while his opponent, Zoran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist from Queens, criticized that stance.

Debate raged within the party, with progressive Democrats alleging that Israel’s actions constituted genocide, while supporters argued that such views were inherently anti-Semitic.

One prominent Democratic lawmaker pledged to honor the 1,200 victims and insisted that addressing the hostages held by Hamas should not be contentious.

“There should be no controversy on a day meant to remember the largest Jewish massacre since the Holocaust,” the lawmaker remarked.

The bill’s demise began when Gary Pretlow, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, announced substitutions for regular members, which critics allege was a deliberate tactic to facilitate the bill’s rejection.

The removed members included individuals regarded as supportive of the measure, raising suspicions about the process.

Chan had offered to consider Democratic sponsorship for the bill, but obstacles remained. While such committee reshuffles are not uncommon, they typically aim to steer votes away from controversial decisions.

A number of Democratic council members from New York City broke ranks to support the commemorative bill.

Logic, one of the supportive council members, opined, “No one should use October 7th as a political pawn. We owe more to the 56 hostages and their families than that.”

In a notable turn of events, Heastie had earlier supported a resolution honoring Palestinian Americans, which generally garners less controversy.

That resolution described the growing involvement of Palestinian Americans in advocacy related to Middle East issues, and strict instructions were given to ensure its support among lawmakers.

Amid discussions, Heastie aimed to mitigate any potential fallout on the floor of Congress regarding the Republican-led calls for a vote on Gallagher’s resolution.

No comments were available from Heastie’s office regarding these developments.