Schakowsky Recognizes International Holocaust Remembrance Day

WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Chief Deputy Whip, released the following statement recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day:

“Today, we recognize International Holocaust Remembrance Day – the 78th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, where more than a million innocent people were brutally murdered. And it is a day when the international community honors the memories of the millions of lives lost to the terrible atrocities of the Holocaust. We also recognize the survivors whose lives were forever changed, many of whom came to the 9th Congressional District of Illinois.

“This day remains particularly meaningful for me, as a Jewish American, and for my community. My district has one of the largest concentrations of Holocaust survivors in the country. Skokie, a village in my district, is home to the Illinois Holocaust Museum, a 65,000 square foot facility dedicated to the preservation of history and the education of future generations. Our community has not forgotten its history and we will continue working to ensure we never do.

“With every passing day, it becomes increasingly important to remember the lessons of the Holocaust. With antisemitism on the rise at home and around the world, we must recommit ourselves to stopping hate-fueled violence and genocide wherever they occur. We must remain diligent. As a member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Committee, I will continue to work hard each and every day to promote peace, acceptance, and freedom of religion. Persecution can never be tolerated, whether based on religion, nationality, political opinion, or anything else. Today and every day, let us honor the memories of those who were lost by telling their stories and ensuring that the horrific events of the Holocaust are never repeated.”

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