Atlantic City Commemorates Holocaust Remembrance Day
Atlantic City, N.J. — For the second consecutive year, the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton University collaborated with the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) to illuminate Atlantic City in yellow in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
On the evening of January 27, Bally’s Atlantic City, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Atlantic City, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City, Ocean Casino Resort, Resorts Atlantic City, and Tropicana Atlantic City switched their exterior lighting to yellow as part of a national awareness initiative supported by the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education.
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City lights up yellow on January 27.
The color yellow represents Holocaust awareness as it echoes the yellow Star of David badges that Jews were compelled to wear during the Holocaust.
The casinos’ involvement aligns with Light Up America Yellow, a nationwide campaign aimed at lighting buildings yellow across all 50 states to keep the memory and lessons of the Holocaust a national focus, guiding future generations. Other landmarks, such as Madison Square Garden and the Ben Franklin Bridge, also participated in the commemoration.
Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez, director of Stockton’s Holocaust Resource Center and a member of the New Jersey Commission, proposed this initiative to Mark Giannantonio, CEO of Resorts and president of the casino association, in 2025. Last year, seven casinos joined in the effort.
“As Atlantic City casinos shine in yellow, we are reminded of our duty to bring light to darkness,” Moreno-Rodriguez stated. “By participating in this global commemoration, we honor the millions lost during the Holocaust and stand united against antisemitism and all forms of hatred.”
Giannantonio, a Stockton alumnus who took Holocaust and Genocide Studies while at the university, expressed pride in the casinos joining others in honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day on the 81st anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation. “This day prompts us to remember, educate, and ensure such atrocities are never repeated,” he added.
Moreno-Rodriguez emphasized the campaign’s significance in reinforcing collective lessons learned from the Holocaust. “We shine today so that we never forget our shared humanity and our responsibility to improve the world,” he remarked.
About the Casino Association of New Jersey
The Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) is a trade body representing the Atlantic City casino industry. It fosters communication among industry stakeholders to support Atlantic City’s transformation into a premier resort destination. The CANJ advocates for initiatives that enhance economic growth and job creation for local communities. For more information, please visit www.casinosnj.org.
— Story by Mark Melhorn, Photos by Tom Briglia
