Holocaust Memorial Day: standing together

Today, 27 January, is Holocaust Memorial Day, and this year it marks exactly 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. UNISON marked the event with an event at UNISON centre, attended by hundreds of staff. There was a minute’s silence and the lighting of a candle of remembrance to honour the victims of the Nazi regime and those murdered during modern genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Speeches were given by Dave Prentis, Georgia Gould, the leader of Camden council, local MP Keir Starmer, UNISON president Josie Bird, Hope not Hate deputy director Jemma Levene and UNISON senior national officer Ruth Levin, whose family history archive was on display at the event. UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Holocaust denialism is a poison. Not carelessness with facts, but a deliberate, insidious evil. To commemorate this day is to strike a blow against these lies and denial. “We stand against this evil. Wherever it manifests itself. We remember those who were murdered in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. We remember the words of Primo Levi: ‘It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere’. “That is why our union will always stand against anti-Semitism, racism, discrimination and hate.” Holocaust denial remains a serious problem in the UK. A survey carried out by Opinion Matters for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News anti-fascism anti-racism dave prentis holocaust memorial day hope not hate Josie Bird Keir Starmer Source Type: news