City of Aberdeen to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

26 January 2021

A free ‘virtual’ event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2021 (HMD) will be held at 2pm on Wednesday 27 January.

Aberdeen Holocaust Memorial Day Committee decided to organise the special online event due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The theme of HMD 2021 is Be the light in the darkness. It encourages everyone to reflect on the depth humanity can sink to, but also the ways individuals and communities reject that darkness to ‘be the light’ before, during and after genocide. 

The ‘virtual’ event will include readings from the book ‘From Phnom Penh to Paradise’, by Var Ashe Houston followed by questions and discussion about content of the book and the subject of genocide. 

The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Barney Crockett said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is a time for everyone to reflect and remember the millions of people affected by the Nazi persecution and other genocides.

“It is extremely important that we continue to remember the victims of all atrocities and learn from the past so we can try to prevent them from happening again and help create a better world for all.”

Information on the Eventbrite tickets is available at Var Hong Ash book reading Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

For more information on Aberdeen Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration visit www.facebook.com/AberdeenHMD and https://www.hmd.org.uk/ 

The Lord Provost and members of the Aberdeen Holocaust Memorial Day Committee to commemorate HMD in Aberdeen have recorded a video in which they talk about identity-based prejudice and hostility today.  The video can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/dDx0Xk6YTVs

Marischal College will be lit up purple to mark HMD2021 by Aberdeen City Council in a show of respect and honour to all victims of genocide.

Holocaust Memorial Day in Aberdeen is organised by Aberdeen Synagogue Four Pillars, Grampian Regional Equality Council, Polish Association Aberdeen, UNITE Union, University of Aberdeen, community members and supported by Aberdeen City Council.