A bipartisan group of legislators, has sponsored a legislative proclamation honoring the life and legacy of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a young man who was killed by the Hamas terrorist group.
The proclamation designates September 12, 2024, as a day of mourning in Arizona for Hersh and calls upon the community to “remember his enduring spirit and commit to the principles of peace, justice, and the sanctity of human life that he held dear.”
The proclamation has garnered widespread bipartisan support, including the following House members: Representatives Matt Gress (R-4), Alma Hernandez (D-20), Quang Nguyen (R-1), Consuelo Hernandez (D-21), Michael Carbone (R-25), Seth Blattman (D-9), Michele Peña (R-23), Nancy Gutierrez (D-18), David Cook (R-7), Chris Mathis (D-18), Minority Whip Lydia Hernandez (D-24), Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci (R-30), and Speaker Ben Toma (R-27).
Goldberg-Polin, an American-Israeli citizen, was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, during a peace festival in Israel. Despite suffering severe injuries, Hersh continued to prioritize the safety of those around him. After enduring months of captivity, Hersh was murdered by Hamas on August 31, 2024, in Gaza, shortly before an IDF rescue operation could reach him.
“Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s story is one of extraordinary bravery, resilience, and sacrifice,” stated Representative Matt Gress, one of the lead sponsors of the proclamation. “It is a story that demands not just our mourning but our action. Hamas is a terrorist organization that has demonstrated time and again its commitment to cruelty and violence. The murder of Hersh and the ongoing suffering inflicted on countless others must serve as a wake-up call for the international community. The world cannot allow the continued existence of such a barbaric group. Hamas must be eliminated, and those responsible for these heinous acts must be brought to justice. I stand in unwavering solidarity with Hersh’s family, the remaining hostages, and all those affected by Hamas’s terrorism.”
