Council marks Holocaust Memorial Day

A flag has been raised over the headquarters of Three Rivers District Council in Rickmansworth to mark Holocaust Memorial Day - the international day of remembrance which takes place every year on 27 January.

The flag raising is part of events to remember the six million Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution and subsequent genocides.

Earlier today (Friday) Cllr Debbie Morris, Chair of Three Rivers District Council, and Cllr Sarah Nelmes, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, were joined by Cllr Stephen Cox, Labour Group Leader, and Alan Moss, the Chair of Northwood United Synagogue who represented the Jewish community.

Cllr Morris said: "It is so important that we continue to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. As time moves on from the horrors of Nazi Germany, we must never forget what happened. Marking this day is a reminder that we must stand up against hatred levelled by one group of people towards another because of their ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability or other characteristics. "

Cllr Nelmes said: “Today we look back on some of the darkest days in our human story. The mass genocide which took place in Nazi Germany, so close to our own shores, was an event so evil and harrowing that it is almost impossible to comprehend – but comprehend it we must. For the survivors, and their families, this day forces us to ask – could this ever happen again? Unbelievably, we know that genocide has happened again, and people continue to suffer – we must always remain alert to that fact. I know I speak for the whole council when I say that hatred towards people because of their faith, race, or on any other grounds is wrong and its full ugliness must be recognised in the hope that we can one day say it has been defeated, forever.”

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust  encourages remembrance and promotes and support Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January, the date which marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

You can read Cllr Morris’ tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides – and considers its personal significance to her and her family here: https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/news/chair-s-blog-reflections-on-holocaust-memorial-day