Journeys in memory of the Holocaust

Bury’s young people are taking the lead in remembering the journeys taken by those who experienced the Holocaust and subsequent genocides with the aim to combat hatred and discrimination. 

Young people from local secondary schools and colleges, faith leaders, musicians and community members will join together for Bury’s Holocaust Memorial Day event, held at Radcliffe Civic Suite on Monday 27 January. The night will feature poetry, dance, drama and music, and readings from the accounts of people who lived through the Holocaust and other atrocities.

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 in Darfur, Bosnia, Cambodia and Rwanda, and aims to tackle prejudice, discrimination and racism in the present day.

The theme for HMD 2014 is “Journeys”, encouraging people to build understanding, to unite in a common cause and reflect and remember together.

The Mayor of Bury, Councillor Sharon Briggs, said: “On HMD 2014, we are encouraging our local communities to come together to remember victims of the Holocaust and those whose lives have been affected by exclusion and hatred in subsequent genocides. On this day, we have an opportunity to all collectively pause and reflect on our lives today and consider how we can have a better, safer future.”

Councillor Mike Connolly, leader of Bury Council, will be joined by members of all parties in signing the Holocaust Memorial Day Statement of Commitment.

The event at Radcliffe Civic Suite will start at 7pm. Entrance to the event is strictly by ticket invitation only.

ENDS

Press release issued: 21 January 2014.

Picture opportunity: Photographers are invited to attend the dress rehearsal for the service on 27 January, at 2pm at Radcliffe Civic Suite. The actual event will start at 7pm. Entrance to the event is strictly by ticket invitation only. No photographers or members of the media will be allowed to attend the actual evening service itself.

Note to editors: The first Holocaust Memorial Day took place in the UK in 2001. For more information, visit http://www.hmd.org.uk/