Tower Hamlets Council will hold a series of events this month, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January.
People in Tower Hamlets are invited to come together to challenge hatred and prejudice through remembering the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2023 is Ordinary People.
Genocide is facilitated by ordinary people; ordinary people turn a blind eye, believe propaganda, and join murderous regimes. And those who are persecuted, oppressed and murdered in genocide aren’t persecuted because of crimes they’ve committed – they are persecuted simply because they are ordinary people who belong to a particular group.
Ordinary People can also make a difference and did make a difference during the holocaust.
Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
“Tower Hamlets has always been a place where ordinary people have united to take a stand against intolerance and division. As we remember the millions who suffered persecution and lost their lives during the Holocaust and other genocides, let us continue to make a difference by standing together as one community, to challenge all forms of hatred.”
Tower Hamlets Council is working in partnership to deliver a programme of events and activities including film screenings, an inter-faith memorial event and a walk, to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2023, in line with the theme of ‘Ordinary People’.
Sufia Alam, Head of Programmes and Maryam Centre, London Muslim Centre, and interim Chair of Tower Hamlets Interfaith Forum said:
“Let us ordinary people come together to remember the millions of ordinary people who were murdered in the Holocaust and challenge hatred and prejudice wherever we see it. Ordinary people suffered and died because they belonged to a particular group and we ordinary people still grieve for this tragedy. We ordinary people can be extraordinary and put a stop to the hatred that divides and causes us harm.
“The Islamic faith teaches us that taking a life is like killing all of humanity.
Together we can stamp hatred out from our society, standing shoulder to shoulder as one humanity and pray for peace in this world.”
