Monday 27th January was Holocaust Memorial Day and marked 75 years since the liberation of the infamous Nazi death camp Auschwitz in Poland. It seems almost unimaginable that such atrocities could have occurred in our living history. Remembering the events of our past and learning about genocide, racism and hatred is important to ensure such events can never happen again.
In Parliament, I signed a book of commitment, as I did the year before, to show my support and signed up to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. A debate took place in the House of Commons which was incredibly moving, with MPs sharing the experiences of constituents and their families, as well as, addressing the unwelcome rise in antisemitism that is creeping into today’s society. This is something I raised, particularly with respect to social media where abusive behaviour can hide behind anonymity. However, there are many individuals and groups who fall victim to such abuse, who refuse to be intimidated and are challenging these unacceptable views wherever they find them.
This year the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day was "Stand Together’ and in Chichester our community certainly did. A fantastic group of volunteers worked hard to ensure our area marked the occasion. On Monday there were two special performances of the opera, Push, which tells the story of Simon Gronowski, an 11-year-old boy, who was pushed from a moving train bound for Auschwitz by his mother in a desperate attempt to save his life. Last year we put on a performance at Speaker’s House in Parliament, and I am delighted that it is back again in Chichester. The opera will also be put on at Westbourne House School on February 15th.
Holocaust Memorial Day is also a chance to remember all those murdered in genocides including Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Over the weekend my husband and I went to Chichester’s New Park Cinema for a special viewing of ‘Enemies of the People’ which unveils the horror of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. The film interviews perpetrators from the murderous socialist regime that invented the Killing Fields and wiped out a quarter of the country’s population.
Looking back at such atrocities is always difficult, yet so important as the past is a lesson to us all. It reminds us we cannot stand by while people are marginalised or abused. I am sure the people of Chichester would stand together with those who call out this behaviour and call for love over hate.