People in Northern Ireland are still being denied their rights because of their religion, New York Governor Mr George Pataki has said.
Hosting a lavish breakfast to launch the St Patrick's Day Parade, Mr Pataki called for peace and justice for the six counties of the north.
Mr Pataki spoke of visiting a new Irish famine memorial in the city.
"That hunger took place over 150 years ago. It was a horrible example of man's inhumanity to man," he said.
"Yet in the six counties of the north and in other parts of the world people are still denied their rights because of race or religion."
During his speech at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, leaflets were handed out, giving details of a candlelit vigil outside the British Embassy in memory of murdered human rights solicitor Ms Rosemary Nelson.
Among the 1,000 strong audience of wealthy Irish Americans were Stormont Higher and Further Education Minister Mr Sean Farren and the Irish Health and Children Minister Mr Micheal Martin.
Both men, who are in New York to open the first all-Ireland Jobsfair, attended the traditional mass at St Patrick's Cathedral before going to the Governor's breakfast.
The two ministers later attended a St Patrick's Day lunch hosted by Enterprise Ireland.
They had a prime view of the 240th New York parade, which took its usual route down Fifth Avenue watched by thousands of onlookers.