REDDITCH came together on Saturday for Holocaust Memorial Day to remember the millions murdered by genocide and to say with one voice ‘never again’.
Holocaust Memorial Day exists to help us to honour the memory of all victims of genocide and atrocity in the world and to strive to ensure we do not allow such things to occur again.
It remembers the 6million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions killed under Nazi persecution of other groups, as well as the people who died in genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.
This year’s theme of ‘the fragility of freedom’ aims to highlight how easily freedom can be taken and how it is fragile and vulnerable to abuse.
The town’s MP, Mayor and councillors were joined by the community to honour the memory of the millions killed under Nazi persecution.
Coun Juliet Barker-Smith, who arranged the creation of the library memorial, said: “People flocked to see the Fragility of Freedom birds and lots of people made their own to add to the display.
“Thanks to everybody who pulled together to make the Memorial Day so special.”
Coun Peter Fleming, who chaired the committee which organised the event, said: “Freedom means different things to different people – identity, speech, religion, love, movement. Freedom can be empowering and uplifting but also vulnerable and easy to take away.
“Sadly, this has been experienced by hundreds of thousands of people throughout history.
“On HMD 2024, we reflect on how freedom is fragile and vulnerable to abuse.
“As a community, let’s pledge not to take our freedoms for granted and consider what we can do to strengthen freedoms around the world.”
Rachel Maclean, the town’s MP signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment.
In signing the book, Mrs Maclean pledged her commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and to honour those murdered during the Holocaust.
She said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is an important opportunity for people from Redditch and the villages to reflect on the darkest times of European history.
“I pledge to remember the 6million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered in the Holocaust and speak out against all forms of antisemitism, which in recent months has risen exponentially and which needs to be tackled head on.”
