Tens of thousands of people across Britain will join more events to mark Holocaust Memorial Day tomorrow (27 January 2007). The annual day commemorates victims of Nazi persecution and those murdered in subsequent genocide such as Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
Holocaust Memorial Day has taken place in the UK since 2001 and falls on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp in World War 2.
This year the Day carries the theme 'Stand Up To Hatred', in an attempt to highlight the dangers of allowing hate crime to flourish and to develop into even worse atrocities.
Over the weekend, Holocaust survivors and their families joined together to remember the millions of people murdered by the Nazis.
More than 800 people, including those who have suffered genocide in other countries, held a minute's silence at the national commemoration for HMD in Coventry.
In his address, Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks said it was important for the world stand up to hate and prejudice.
He told a packed Belgrade Theatre: "We must all take a stand whenever we see hate or prejudice in any form because each of us can make a difference. When I see anti-semitism I protest - but I protest too when Muslims are targeted or Hindus or Sikhs, or whatever group in our society because hate is dangerous."
Organisers of the event said 260,000 hate crimes were estimated to have taken place in 2006 and people were regularly discriminated against because of their race, gender, religion or disability.
Andrew Pakes, from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said it was important for the event to recognise victims of all genocide throughout the world.
He said: "Coventry did a fantastic job of bringing close the community and Holocaust survivors and other people involved to remember and take stock of why we are here."
a Stand up to Hatred Walk took place on Saturday 24 January. The BBC, currently under fire for refusing to show a charity appeal for victims of the conflict in Gaza, is launching a new archive collection “Witnessing the Holocaust” to coincide with HMD09.
The collection features programmes and documents from the BBC’s archives, which range from Richard Dimbleby’s harrowing account following the liberation of Belsen concentration camp in 1945, through to a Blue Peter children's programme interview with Otto Frank, father of Anne. This was first broadcast in 1979.
Check http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive on or after 27 January 2009 for more information.
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) is a national charity formed in 2005. Its vision is that the Holocaust and subsequent genocides are known; that victims are commemorated and lessons learnt are translated into contemporary action in the UK.
HMDT is responsible for the annual, national commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day. In addition it aids, promotes and supports HMD events and projects in local communities, schools and educational institutions.
For more information go to: http://www.hmd.org.uk/
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