A Message from the Mayor: October 7 Attacks

Published on October 01, 2024

By Larisa Svechin, Mayor

It has been a year since the terrorist army of Hamas, a proxy of the radical regime of Iran, committed the most heinous atrocities and the terrible crimes against Israeli civilians, since the Israeli withdrawal in 2005. October 7 will forever be known as the horrific culmination of years of terrorism against the civilians of Israel. The world witnessed the horrors of October 7, 2023 – in real time, as the despicable animals of Hamas, shared their crimes all over social media. The memories of that day are forever seared in our minds. Given our large Jewish and Israeli population, it has been my mission to honor the victims, the hostages, the brave soldiers, and to continue to stand with Israel forever. We continue to mourn and weep for the innocent lives that were so brutally taken and pray for the return of the hostages.

As a community, we support each other in times of need. This has been a difficult year for Jewish people, the agony is ever present, knowing that there are still hostages in captivity. This ongoing suffering is a reminder of the enduring threats faced by Israel, the Jewish people, western values, and democracy.

I had the opportunity to visit Israel with the Combat Antisemitism movement, an organization fiercely dedicated to fighting antisemitism. Standing at the Nova music festival site, where the unspeakable crimes against humanity we perpetuated, I could only imagine the hell these people went through. As Americans, who are connected by the same values and customs with the people of Israel, we understand the importance to remember and more importantly voice our condemnation.

In response, our city has taken a firm stance by prohibiting relationships with any cities that support terrorism or legitimize terrorist states and territories controlled by terrorist organizations. This action reflects our commitment to standing on the right side of history.

To commemorate the darkest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust, our city has partnered with Miami-based artist Luli Sulichin to host an immersive art installation called Caged Pacifiers from Oct. 7–23. This installation emphasizes the deplorable consequence of antisemitism, hate and violence, on children. It will be accompanied by an outdoor activation titled Saltwater Tears from Oct. 7–10, commemorating October 7. Both will be held at the Government Center, located at 18070 Collins Ave.

I am grateful for the support from our City Commission and other South Florida leaders. Together, we must continue to advocate for eradication of terrorist armies and regimes, ensuring that the memory of October 7 serves as a powerful reminder to never again become passive in our collective fight against antisemitic terror.

Contact Mayor Larisa Svechin at lsvechin@sibfl.net or 305.792.1753.