Local Member of Parliament Mark Pawsey has called upon people in Rugby and Bulkington to remember the victims and survivors of the Holocaust on Holocaust Memorial Day, Saturday, January 27th 2018.
Mark signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment in Westminster and pledged his support for Holocaust Memorial Day. This day of commemoration honours those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today.
Saturday 27th January will mark the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of the largest mass murder in history. Mark visited Auschwitz-Birkenau alongside Rugby students during his time as the town’s MP and has spoken about his experiences working as part of the Conservative Party’s Social Action Project in Rwanda, Project Umubano, which has worked closely with survivors of the Rwandan genocide.
In the lead up to and on Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. The theme for this year’s commemorations is ‘The power of words’.
After signing the Book of Commitment, Mark commented:
“Holocaust Memorial Day is an important opportunity for people from Rugby and Bulkington, as well as those throughout the country, to reflect on the tragic events of the Holocaust. As the Holocaust moves from living history, to just history, it becomes ever more important that we take the time to remember the victims and also pay tribute to those who survived not only the Holocaust and other genocides.”
Mark continued:
“The work of the Holocaust Educational Trust is something that I profoundly support, as I have visited not only the site of Auschwitz-Birkenau but have also taken part in charitable work in Rwanda, helping those who survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide. As fierce conflicts are still taking place in the world, the work of charities such as the Holocaust Memorial Trust remains as important as ever and I would encourage local people to show their support on this important day.”
Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, added:
“The Holocaust did not start in the gas chambers but with hate filled words. Our mission is to educate young people from every background about the Holocaust and its contemporary relevance. We are very grateful to Mark for signing the Book of Commitment, signalling a continued commitment to remembering the victims of the Holocaust as well as challenging antisemitism, prejudice and bigotry in all its forms.”