The Speaker hopes to offer the House of Commons a ‘pause for
thought’ in a special commemoration for Holocaust Memorial Day (27
January). The international date remembers the six million Jews
murdered under Nazi persecution, and the victims of subsequent
genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. ‘Be the light in
the darkness’ is the theme chosen by the Holocaust Memorial Day
Trust - which acts as a call to...Request free trial
The Speaker hopes to offer
the House of Commons a ‘pause for thought’
in a special commemoration for Holocaust Memorial
Day (27 January).
The international date remembers the
six million Jews murdered under Nazi persecution, and the
victims of subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and
Darfur.
‘Be the light in the darkness’ is the theme chosen by
the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust - which acts
as a call to action
to encourage everyone to reflect on
the depths to which humanity can
sink.
For the first time, will hold a
short
socially-distanced ceremony
marking the event, with a reading and the lighting of a
candle in Portcullis House, to urge
colleagues to ‘stand together, especially with those
who are suffering’.
‘As we commemorate 76 years since the liberation of
Auschwitz-Birkenau - the largest Nazi concentration and death
camp - we remember the millions of people whose lives were
lost, and families torn apart by hatred,’ he
said.
‘If the last nine months
of Covid have taught us anything, it is how
interconnected we are, and how we achieve far
more together than apart.
‘Now, more than ever, we need to ‘be the light in the
darkness’ – to
take a moment to call out and
counter messages of hate, exclusion and
intolerance, and instead work together
to create a better, safer and happier future.’
To support the ‘National Moment’ the House of Commons
will be among iconic buildings and landmarks across the country
to be lit up in purple on
27 January, to
commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.
Mr
Speaker said he hoped the candle-lighting
ceremony in Portcullis House will introduce a
new tradition, to help MPs and
staff recognise
the experiences of colleagues, friends and constituents
past and present.
‘After all, Parliament is a diverse community, serving a
diverse nation,’ he
said.
‘Survivors of the Holocaust
are our friends and our family. They live among
us, and it
is thanks to their brave
testimony - often to
schools, colleges, and
also to each of us individually -
that we learn the
lessons of the past;
that genocide is a steady process that
begins if
discrimination, racism and hatred are not checked or
prevented.’
-
This is the first time Holocaust Memorial Day has
been marked in this way in the House of Commons
-
The
socially-distanced ceremony
will begin at 0900 on 27
January 2021 in Portcullis House with an
introduction from Speaker’s Chaplain Tricia Hillas.
Mr
Speaker will then read a prayer and light a
candle, before there is a moment of
reflection
-
Also in attendance will be
the three Deputy Speakers, plus members of the House
service
-
Our in-house photographer Jessica Taylor will take
images from the event, that will be available
about 45
minutes afterwards
-
Mr
Speaker will give the following
reading, inspired
by a joint prayer issued for Holocaust
Memorial Day 2020 by the Chief Rabbi, the and Senior Imam Qari Asim:
‘With heavy hearts we remember the six million Jewish
souls, murdered during the Holocaust, and with them so many
people with additional needs, the Roma and members of the
LGBT+ community. In the horrors of that history, when so many
groups were targeted because of their identity, and in
genocides which followed, we
recognise the
destructive prejudices which drive people apart. May space no
longer be given to fear and hatred of others as we choose the
courage that faces the darkness. Through our words and
actions, may we stand together, especially with those who are
suffering, so that light may banish all darkness, love will
prevail over hate and good will triumph over
evil.’
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