In Wake of Shocking Holocaust Knowledge Survey, Sen. Kaminsky Urges Passage of Hate Symbols Education Bill

(Rockville Centre, NY) -- Today, in the wake of the release of a nationwide survey showing a troubling lack of basic Holocaust knowledge among adults under 40, Senator Todd Kaminsky urged the passage of his bill (S6648), which would require instruction regarding symbols of hate, including the swastika and the noose, for New York students in grades 6 through 12. The survey, conducted by the Claims Conference, was touted as the first 50-state survey of Holocaust knowledge among millennials and Generation Z. 

“Statistics like this are shocking and emphasize a clear gap in education, when we could be using that exact tool to tackle the larger problem of rising hate crimes in New York,” said Senator Todd Kaminsky. “This is exactly why New York needs to pass my bill requiring our children be taught the meaning of the swastika and other symbols of hate. By educating students on these symbols, we encourage a dialogue on why hate crimes are on the rise and prevent a repeat of the tragic history of the Holocaust.” 

Survey results showed that many respondents were unclear about the basic facts of the Holocaust. Sixty-three percent of those surveyed did not know that 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust, and over half of those thought the death toll was fewer than 2 million. Over 40,000 concentration camps and ghettos were established during World War II, but nearly half of U.S. respondents could not name a single one. Most staggering, the survey revealed that 1 in 10 respondents reported having never heard the word “Holocaust” before. 

As the number of hate crimes have skyrocketed across New York State and throughout our nation, it is crucial that students are educated on the meaning and significance of how these hateful symbols are used to generate fear in our communities across the state. Senator Kaminsky’s bill will ensure that students will receive the proper education on these symbols of hate. By teaching our future generations of students why these symbols of hate made a great impact to individuals in Germany will reduce the amount of hate crimes committed throughout the state of New York and across our nation.

###