Keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive

Bury’s young people took the lead in keeping alive the memory of those who experienced the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

Pupils from 14 of the borough’s high schools took part in the annual Holocaust Memorial Day service, which was held at the Longfield Suite in Prestwich on Thursday night and led by the Mayor of Bury, Councilor Dorothy Gunther.

They were joined by college students, faith leaders, musicians, singers and community members for an evening of remembrance and to hear the story of Sam, a 90-year-old Prestwich resident and Holocaust survivor.

Holocaust Memorial Day is held every year on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. It remembers the victims of the Holocaust and of other genocides such as Darfur, Bosnia, Cambodia and Rwanda, and aims to tackle prejudice, discrimination and racism in the present day.

The theme for HMD 2018 is ‘The Power of Words’ and how they were used in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides in propaganda to incite hatred, in slogans written in resistance, and in memoirs to record survivors’ experiences.

Councillor Rishi Shori, leader of Bury Council was among the guests. He said: “It was an honour to attend the Holocaust memorial event, which was incredibly poignant, and many thanks to the schools, religious and community representatives who participated. The brutality and inhumanity of the Holocaust should never be forgotten but, while we reflect on the tragic events of the past, we must commit to building a safer better future.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 30 January 2018.