MP Supports World Holocaust Day

Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard last week signed a book of remembrance at the House of Commons to draw attention to World Holocaust Day.

Mr Gerrard said “On 27^th January we remember all the victims of the Holocaust – the 6 million Jews, the Roma people, gay men and lesbians, people who were mentally ill or disabled, religious and political opponents of the Nazis, many black and Slavic people. By remembering the victims of the Holocaust and honouring their memory, and also those who survived the horrors of the concentration camps, we reaffirm our goals of mutual understanding, tolerance, and justice.”

“We should take this opportunity to reflect upon the fact that humanity is still scarred by beliefs that race or religion or disability or sexuality make some people’s lives worth less than others. Genocide, anti-semitism, racism and discrimination are still rife.”

“This year’s Holocaust Day has the theme ‘One Person Can Make A Difference’. We should all consider what we can do to challenge our own behaviour and moral choices, and focus on what can be achieved when we make the choice to make a difference in our own community.”

“It was heartening to see in Walthamstow last year that after the July bombings different communities locally came together rather than allowing themselves to become divided. If we can do that in response to such a terrible event, we can do it also to achieve a long lasting understanding and tolerance of one another’s beliefs.”

January 2007

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