Activities move online to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

Telford & Wrekin Council will be showing a pre-recorded ceremony on Facebook and YouTube.

The day marks 76 years since the liberation of the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau and 26 years since the genocide in Bosnia.

The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2021 is ‘being the light in the darkness’.

The idea behind this is to show how each and every person can help make a difference in someone else’s life and help reduce prejudice in the modern world.

To represent the theme, residents are being asked to light a candle to remember, but also look forward, and share photos on social media.

Guest speakers include Dr Eve Clevenger, a descendant of a holocaust survivor, Councillor Paul Watling, cabinet member for cooperative communities, engagement and partnerships, Telford & Wrekin Mayor Councillor Amrik Jhawar, David Sidaway, chief executive at Telford & Wrekin Council, and students from Newport Girl’s High School.

Councillor Watling said: “This year’s theme asks all of us to recognise that the responsibility for genocide education and prevention does not lie only with survivors sharing their testimony.

Distortions

"Their experiences hold lessons for all of us and it is vital that we listen to their experiences and become witnesses for them.

"As distortions and denial increase, facing the extent and nature of the crimes committed to reveal the truth of genocide and genocidal regimes is more important than ever.

"Our lights are more powerful when we work together with others. It gives us a responsibility to work for a safer, better, future for everyone.

"Everyone can step up and use their talents to tackle prejudice, discrimination and intolerance wherever we encounter them.

"We can all stand in solidarity. We can choose to be the light in the darkness through our own actions – at home, in public, and online, and I urge you all to do so.”

You can view the ceremony at 11am on Facebook @TelfordWrekin or YouTube @TelfordWrekin

To find out more about Holocaust Memorial Day and how you can get involved visit telford.gov.uk/HMD