Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul attended a multi-faith prayer vigil in Midtown Manhattan to honor the victims of a recent shooting. The event brought together city and state officials, including Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, as well as members of the community.
During her remarks, Governor Hochul expressed gratitude for the leadership shown by Mayor Adams in responding to the incident. “Mayor Adams, on behalf of everyone in this city and the great State of New York, I want to thank you for the leadership that you showed in this trying moment — to show what compassion is, what having a heart is all about, but also being able to be calm in the face of the storm,” Hochul said. She continued by acknowledging his perseverance during public addresses following the shooting: “When I witnessed you going on television, I saw how challenging it was for you, but you stood there and persevered to describe the horrific actions that had taken place that just unfolded a few hours earlier. So, I want to thank you again, Mayor Adams, for everything you have done for this city and continue to do, particularly keeping all of us safe.”
Hochul also recognized Commissioner Tisch’s role during this period. “Commissioner Jessica Tisch, one of the most humble people you’ll ever meet, but she deserves our gratitude, for the courage she has displayed in this moment of standing up to the hatred and the violence and supporting the men and women of the NYPD. Thank you Commissioner Tisch for all you do for us,” she stated.
The Governor reflected on conversations with families affected by the tragedy. She described speaking with both a husband who lost his wife and a widow expecting her third child. “I didn’t know what to say. I said, I’ve been married to a man I cherish. I’m a wife, I’m a mom. I don’t know what to say to you to lift this pain off your heart. But I want you to know that we love you as a city and as a State we love you.” Hochul added that when she asked if there was anything they could do for one family member, “she just said, ‘Pray for us.'”
Addressing broader issues related to gun violence across New York State—including past incidents such as those in Buffalo—Governor Hochul called on federal lawmakers for action: “But if this nation misses yet another moment to do what is right that they’ve neglected to do for decades, then shame on them. This is the time to stand up and say no more slaughter by a weapon of mass destruction designed to kill people on the battlefield…that era must end.”
She concluded her remarks by emphasizing resilience within New York communities after repeated tragedies: “There’s one thing I know though, that that heart will mend. It’ll heal — because we are resilient. We are strong. We have been tested over and over and over again, and we always come together in tragedy to lift each other up.”
Governor Hochul closed with words honoring law enforcement officers and those affected: “May God bless the NYPD…May God bless the families whose lives have been shredded and torn apart…May God bless the people of this great City and the State of New York…And above all, God bless the United States of America and heaven help her in our time of need.”
Video coverage from today’s vigil can be viewed on YouTube, while TV-quality footage is available here. Audio recordings are accessible here, with photos posted on the Governor’s Flickr page.
