Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation Presents Annual Moral Courage Awards, Honors Ousmane Diallo’s Legacy at  Yankee Stadium

The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation (AJCF) presented its annual Moral Courage Awards at Yankee Stadium, recognizing five individuals for confronting antisemitism and hate and posthumously honoring Ousmane Diallo, the 24-year-old Harlem legislative director whose brief life was marked by public service and bridge-building.

The honorees were Rachel Amar, Co-Founder of MODA; Gil Cygler, Board Member of AJCF; Moshe Kinderlehrer, Co-Founder and Co-Publisher of The Jewish Link; Rebecca Sassouni, Of Counsel at Wisselman Harounian Family Law; and Lisa “Malkie” Vider, Operator and Administrator of Oceanview Manor Home for Adults.

Diallo served as Legislative Director for New York State Assembly Member Al Taylor (D-Harlem) and died on July 18. His family accepted the posthumous award. A lifelong Harlemite and longtime youth leader with the National Action Network, Diallo devoted himself to public service and youth empowerment. At the time of his death, he was participating in a JCRC-NY fellowship focused on strengthening relationships between Muslim and Jewish New Yorkers.

At the event, Assembly Member Landon Dais (D-Bronx) announced his commitment to allocate a six-figure capital grant to support the infrastructure needed to expand Decode Hate to schools across New York State.