Council marks Holocaust Memorial Day

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council was pleased to recently hold an educational event, in support of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme, ‘Don’t Stand By’, to commemorate those who lost their lives during the atrocity.

 

The event was organised as part of the Council’s Good Relations programme, and saw pupils from Fort Hill Integrated College, Laurel Hill College, Friends School and Lagan College, come together to mark this significant occasion.

 

Pupils had the opportunity to watch a documentary on WWII, ‘Nicky’s Family’, and also heard from guest speakers Rachel Burns, Education Manager at UK Jewish Film, and Mike Levy, who knows the director of ‘Nicky’s Family’, and played a small part in the making of the film when it was shot in Cambridge.

 

Speaking at the event, the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Thomas Beckett said, “I am pleased to see so many pupils here today and I would like to sincerely thank the schools involved for being part of this special event.

 

“I would also like extend my gratitude to the guest speakers, Rachel Burns, Education Manager at UK Jewish Film and Mike Levy, who have flown over from London to be here today – your contribution has added to the event.

 

“Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on the 27 January each year which is a time for everyone to pause to remember the millions of people whose lives have been lost or changed beyond recognition during the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

 

“It is undeniably important to understand not only the horrors that took place during the Holocaust but to also give the victims of the heinous acts they endured their place in our hearts, thoughts and of course memory.  By remembering, we instill a sense of how easily certain situations can lead to similar circumstances endured during the Holocaust, and by keeping that at the forefront of our minds, we ensure that something so terrible will never happen again.

 

“This year’s theme is ‘Don’t Stand By’, and when I think of this I think back to the 9th President of Israel Shimon Peres, in one of his speeches where he said, ‘Whoever ignores the threat against one nation, must know that the threat of a Holocaust against one nation is a threat of a Holocaust against all nations’.

 

“Holocaust Memorial Day is a time when we seek to learn the lessons of the past and to recognise that genocide does not just take place on its own, it’s a steady process which can begin if discrimination, racism and hatred are not checked and prevented.

 

“We’re fortunate here in Northern Ireland; we are not at risk of genocide. However, discrimination has not ended, nor has the use of the language of hatred or exclusion. There is still much to do to create a safer future and Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity to further this process.”