Local authorities in dozens of cities and counties across the US issued formal proclamations designating October 7 as a “Day of Remembrance.” The municipal initiative, facilitated by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), coincided with the third anniversary of the Hamas-led massacres in southern Israel.

The standardized text adopted across participating jurisdictions states: “WHEREAS, on October 7, 2023, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), both US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, carried out a devastating terrorist attack in Israel, murdering nearly 1,200 people, including 46 Americans, and kidnapping approximately 250 people, including at least 12 Americans, forever changing the lives of victims, survivors, and their families.”

The proclamations further note that the massacre marked “the worst act of violence targeting Jews since the Holocaust,” noting that it has deeply affected Jewish communities globally while triggering an unprecedented post-World War II surge in antisemitism.

Lisa Katz, CAM’s chief government affairs officer who leads engagement with North American mayors, emphasized the significance of the municipal resolutions.

“Three years after Hamas’s horrific October 7 massacre, remembering the victims and showing solidarity with Jewish communities should be a matter of basic human dignity,” Katz said. “At a time when we are seeing the barbaric atrocities of that terrible day denied, minimized, and even celebrated, these acts of commemoration mean more than people may realize. They remind Jewish residents that their grief matters, that their neighbors stand with them, and that they are not alone.”

Pictures of the participants of the Nova party who were murdered and kidnapped by the terrorist organization Hamas on October 7, 2023 are displayed at the site of the Nova music festival massacre, in Re'im, near the Israeli-Gaza border, November 28, 2023
Pictures of the participants of the Nova party who were murdered and kidnapped by the terrorist organization Hamas on October 7, 2023 are displayed at the site of the Nova music festival massacre, in Re'im, near the Israeli-Gaza border, November 28, 2023 (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Over three dozen US cities, counties commemorate October 7 massacre

More than three dozen cities and counties participated in the initiative, spanning municipalities such as Boston, Beverly Hills, Miami Beach, Rockland County, and Tacoma.

End Jew Hatred launched a petition on Action Network expressing public gratitude toward mayors, county executives, and city councils that established the commemorative days.

End Jew Hatred urges public to thank officials honoring October 7 victims

Urging supporters to thank the municipal leaders who took a stand against hate, End Jew Hatred stated: “You were among the many elected officials across the nation who took significant steps to honor the memory of October 7. Some issued proclamations commemorating this tragic day, while others declared it a day of remembrance or held public meetings to reflect on its impact.”

“Thank you for your commitment to justice, for recognizing the true significance of October 7, and for your courage to address the difficult truths of the ongoing hostage situation and the broader conflict. We are profoundly grateful for your leadership and your willingness to speak the truth where so many have remained silent,” End Jew Hatred said.