International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
Fredericton – David Coon, MLA for Fredericton South and Leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick issued the following statement in recognition of International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust on Wednesday, January 27.
It is imperative that we, as New Brunswickers, stand against anti-Semitism, and all racial and ethnic hatred today as we remember the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.
I will never forget, as a young teenager, the summer I learned the significance of the numbers tattooed on the arms of some of the women in our neighbourhood. These tattoos were their concentration camp serial numbers. They were women who survived the death camps and bore these reminders of the hatred that culminated in the Holocaust.
We must remember that such hatred persists today. I ask that all New Brunswickers reflect on the statement released by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
“The violence and bias we see every day are stark reminders of the distance still to travel in upholding human rights, preventing genocide and defending our common humanity. We must redouble our efforts to eradicate the deep roots of hatred and intolerance. People everywhere must unite to stop the cycles of discord and build a world of inclusion and mutual respect. “
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