Today (January 27) marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, which is annually commemorated in both Parliament and within our local community.
As co-Chair of the APPG on British Jews, I was honoured to deliver a reading at the Speaker's Holocaust Memorial Day service in Parliament. ‘I Kept on Walking’ by Mark Hayward reflects on the role of ‘the bystander’ and what can happen in society when hate and discrimination are left unchecked. It reminds us of our collective responsibility, and I was privileged to highlight such a powerful message. I also lit a commemorative candle to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust, and the millions more murdered under Nazi persecution.
Also in Parliament, I signed the Holocaust Education Trust's Book of Commitment. This is to honour those who were murdered during the Holocaust, as well as the extraordinary survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today.
The theme of this year's Holocaust Memorial is 'Bridging the Gap', highlighting the important role of education and dialogue when remembering and learning from the Holocaust and other genocides. We may think we have learnt from history, but it is difficult to reconcile that when we continue to see discrimination and violence aimed at individuals simply because of their faith, race and ethnicity. This is never excused and never justified and we must take the lessons of yesterday to shape a better tomorrow.
Locally, the Harrow Arts Centre will be holding its annual Holocaust Memorial Day event, which I am sorry to miss owing to Parliamentary business.
