Local MP Mark Pawsey last week signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment in Parliament on behalf of residents of Rugby and Bulkington.
In doing so Mark pledged his support for Holocaust Memorial Day, which honours those who were murdered during the Holocaust and pays tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today. Holocaust Memorial Day falls on 27th January every year, commemorating the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, in 1945. The day gives the opportunity for people across the UK, and the whole world, to come together to remember the horrors of the holocaust and other genocides.
As Rugby and Bulkington’s MP, Mark has travelled to Auschwitz-Birkenau to see for himself the site of one of the greatest horrors inflicted on the world and has spoken about how important it is for all of us to remember what happened there. Mark has also, through the Conservative Party’s Project Umubano, spent time in Rwanda working with survivors of the Rwandan genocide which took place in 1994.
Speaking after signing the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment, Mark said:
“It is now nearly 80 years since the abhorrent actions of the Holocaust took place and sadly, it is more important than ever that we ensure we remember the victims and continue to make the promise: Never again. Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity for all of us to take a moment to remember the 6 million Jewish men, women and children as well as the many thousands of Roma and Sinti people, disabled people, gay men and other opponents of the Nazis.”
Mark continued:
“We must also remember the other victims of genocides since the holocaust, and I have seen for myself the scars that the Rwandan genocide inflicted on the population there. However, I have also seen the determination of those who survived these atrocities to rebuild their lives and communities, and I am grateful to have been able to have helped them to do so in a small way.”
Karen Pollock CBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, added:
“On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the 6 million men, women and children who were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, simply for being Jewish, and we pay tribute to the incredible survivors, many of whom still share their testimony day in and day out to ensure that future generations never forget the horrors of the past. We also remember that antisemitism did not start or end with the Holocaust, we must all be vigilant, and speak out whenever it is found.”