Mayor Adams Lowers City Flags to Half-Staff, Announces City Hall, Municipal Buildings to be lit Yellow to Mark One Year Since Hamas Terror Attacks in Israel

October 7, 2024

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that city flags have been lowered to half-staff, and City Hall and other municipal buildings will be lit yellow this evening, in remembrance of one year since the horrific terror attacks perpetrated by Hamas in Israel on October 7th, as well as in advocacy for the safe return of hostages still held captive by Hamas.

“One year ago today, people of all faiths and creeds gathered at the Nova Music Festival in Israel to sing songs of peace and coexistence. With the brutal murder of more than 1,200 innocent men, women, and children by cowardly terrorists, a part of all of us died that day. Hundreds more were taken hostage in the aftermath, and many still remain in captivity today,” said Mayor Adams. “And as we see the devastation wrought on innocent people in the Middle East in the aftermath of this unprovoked attack, the thought of peace becomes even more distant. But that is exactly why we must continue to strive for peace — for the safe return of all of the hostages, for the defeat of Hamas, and for an end to this deadly conflict. To those who plan to use this day to peacefully protest, that is your right. As you do so, remember to follow the law and I ask you to please hold a place in your hearts for those who lost everything a year ago today.”

Ahead of the Jewish High Holidays and the one year mark of the October 7th attacks, Mayor Adams and senior New York City Police Department (NYPD) leaders briefed New Yorkers last week on preparations implemented in anticipation of increased protest activity. Mayor Adams will join NYPD officers today to thank officers assigned to the October 7th protest detail. He will also reiterate the importance of protecting not only New Yorker’s right to protest, but people of all faiths who wish to live and worship in freedom and security. Later today, Mayor Adams will attend the one-year commemoration of the October 7th terrorist attacks being held by United Jewish Appeal and the Jewish Community Relations Council.

In addition to City Hall, the following city buildings will be lit up yellow tonight: 

• Bronx County Courthouse: 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451 
• Brooklyn Borough Hall: 209 Joralemon St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 
• The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building: 1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 
• Queens Borough Hall: 120-55 Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY 11424  
• Staten Island Borough Hall: 10 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301 

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