Sunderland commemorates Holocaust Memorial Day

Sunderland will remember the victims of genocides worldwide in the lead up to Holocaust Memorial Day on Friday 27 January.

The international theme for 2023 commemorations is 'Ordinary People' to highlight the ordinary people who let genocide happen, the ordinary people who actively perpetrated genocide, the ordinary people who became rescuers during genocide, and the ordinary people who were persecuted.

The Sunderland Inter Faith Forum will hold a Holocaust Memorial Day Event at Sunderland Minster on Thursday 26 January, and everyone is invited to come along.

Joining the Inter Faith Forum will be Mayor of Sunderland Councillor Alison Smith, The Lord Lieutenant for Tyne and Wear Lucy Winskell, and Rabbi Sybil Sheridan from Newcastle Reform Synagogue. Guest Speaker Jeanette Marx from Generation 2 Generation, which represents the children of Holocaust survivors, will tell the story of her mother Masha, who survived the Holocaust.

There will be musical performances during the event from Redby Academy Choir and Judith Johnson playing the violin.

Tony Wortman from Sunderland Inter Faith Forum said: "We are all ordinary people today who can be extraordinary in our actions. We can all make decisions to challenge prejudice, stand up to hatred, to speak out against persecution.

"This event bring us all together to remember and learn about Nazi persecution and the genocides that have followed in Cambodia, Darfur, Rwanda and Bosnia, in the hope the actions of ordinary people will prevent Genocides."

Mayor of Sunderland Cllr Alison Smith said: "It's so important that we commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day as it helps us to remember the lives lost and teach future generations about the consequences of racism and hatred.

"I'd ask everyone in Sunderland to help us commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day and I hope this year's event will help us to remember the victims of genocides worldwide."

This year's Holocaust Memorial Day event will take place at 6.30pm at Sunderland Minster.

For more information on what is happening nationally for Holocaust Memorial Day, visit Holocaust Memorial Day Trust | HMD 2023 Theme