Holocaust Memorial Day marked at council's headquarters
A flag has been raised over Three Rivers District Council’s headquarters in Rickmansworth to remember those murdered in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.
The flying of the Holocaust Memorial Day flag at Three Rivers House marks the day remembering the six million Jewish people, alongside the millions of other people, such as the Roma, Sinti, Slavic, black, gay and disabled communities, murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust as well as mark the 30th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Subsequent genocides, such as Cambodia, Bosnia and Darfur, and the millions of people affected both past and present were also remembered.
Holocaust Memorial Day, which takes place on Saturday, 27 January, is held each year on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. It aims to educate, commemorate and prompt action against discrimination and hatred in our communities today.
This year’s theme is ‘Fragility of Freedom,’ highlighting freedom means different things to different people.
Cllr Raj Khiroya, Chair of Three Rivers District Council and Cllr Sarah Nelmes, council leader, were joined by Cllr Oliver Cooper, Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Debbie Morris, Cllr Stephen Cox, Labour Group Leader, Cllr Chris Mitchell, Green Group Leader Alan Moss, the Chair of Northwood United Synagogue who represented the Jewish community, Inspector Dan Bhamra, PC Conor Fountain and PC Bianca Buciuta on Friday, 26 January.
Cllr Khiroya said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is an important day to not only reflect on the freedoms that we take for granted but also remember the millions of people who sadly lost their lives in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.
“We must never forget these horrors and we must learn from history to stand up to hatred to ensure these atrocities never happen again. However, we know that genocides and restrictions on freedoms in other countries towards people based on their faith, gender, sexuality, race and other grounds are still happening.
“It is incomprehensible that this is still happening – but sadly it is. That is why we must all stand and fight against hatred and the signs of genocide to defeat this evil and crime against humanity once and for all.”
PHOTO CAPTION: (From left) Cllr Debbie Morris, Cllr Oliver Cooper, PC Bianca Buciuta, Cllr Sarah Nelmes, Cllr Raj Khiroya, Cllr Tony Humphreys, Alan Moss, PC Conor Fountain, Cllr Stephen Cox and Cllr Chris Mitchell.