Directs the commissioner of the office of general services to erect a monument to be known as the "New York state African slavery and freedom memorial" in the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza to memorialize victims of the African Holocaust, the Holocaust of Enslavement, the Black Holocaust, or the enslavement of Black people and to celebrate the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights for all people.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8819
SPONSOR: Anderson TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to directing the commissioner of the office of gener-
al services to erect a monument to be known as the "New York state Afri-
can slavery and freedom memorial"
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Directs the commissioner of the office of general services to erect a
monument to be known as the New York state African slavery and freedom
Memorial.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1:The commissioner of the office of general services is hereby
authorized and directed to erect a suitably marked monument in the
Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza, in the city of Alba-
ny, county of Albany, dedicated to the memory of those victims of the
African Holocaust, the Holocaust of Enslavement, the Black Holocaust, or
the enslavement of Black people and to celebrate the universal values of
freedom, democracy and human rights for all people. Such monument shall
be known as the "New York state African slavery and freedom memorial"
Section 2: The commissioner of the office of general services shall
solicit from organizations proposals and suggestions for the design,
programming and location of such monument to be erected pursuant to
section one of this act.
Section 3: Effective Date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The enslavement of African Blacks in New York state, throughout the
United States, the Western Hemisphere and beyond has had a profound
impact on world history that has implications to the present day. This
legislation would establish a monument in remembrance and to honor the
victims of slavery and the struggle for freedom. This bill provides for
the education of visitors on the sacrifices and the struggle for freedom
of enslaved Africans and the importance of defending freedom, democracy,
and human rights for all.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8819
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 9, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ANDERSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT in relation to directing the commissioner of the office of gener-
al services to erect a monument to be known as the "New York state
African slavery and freedom memorial"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The commissioner of the office of general services is here-
2 by authorized and directed to erect a suitably marked monument in the
3 Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza, in the city of Alba-
4 ny, county of Albany, dedicated to the memory of those victims of the
5 African Holocaust, the Holocaust of Enslavement, the Black Holocaust, or
6 the enslavement of Black people and to celebrate the universal values of
7 freedom, democracy and human rights for all people. Such monument shall
8 be known as the "New York state African slavery and freedom memorial"
9 and shall be designed to memorialize the Black victims of slavery in New
10 York state and to educate the public about the history of slavery,
11 racism and other harms against Black people in New York state and the
12 universal values of freedom, democracy, and human rights for all.
13 § 2. The commissioner of the office of general services shall solicit
14 from organizations proposals and suggestions for the design, programming
15 and location of such monument to be erected pursuant to section one of
16 this act.
17 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13289-01-5
