Holocaust Memorial Day, today, Wednesday 27 January, is the day for everyone to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi persecution, and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
This year marks the 76th anniversary of the liberation by the Red Army of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration and death camp.
The theme for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is be the light in the darkness. It encourages everyone to reflect on different kinds of ‘darkness’, such as persecution, misinformation and denial of justice, but also encourages us to ‘be the light’ – for example, acting in solidarity with one another, illuminating mistruths and providing help and support to those who may need it.
Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Maureen Creaghan, said: “Although we will be marking Holocaust Memorial Day differently this year due to coronavirus and the current restrictions, it is still important to remember and reflect at home on one of the darkest periods in our history. We must use this period of reflection to help us understand how we can see the best in each other and work together for a safer, better future for our communities.
“With world events such as the coronavirus pandemic sometimes leaving us feeling out of control, alongside hostility and division which remain today, it is so important to show the very best of ourselves and to stand in solidarity with one another.
“We can all stand together, and we can all choose to be the light in the darkness – whether that is at home, whether that is helping and supporting our most vulnerable or whether that is shining a light on injustices we see.”
This year, the UK Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony will be hosted online. You can register for the event, which starts at 7pm this evening, by visiting hmd.org.uk
