Bichotte Hermelyn observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair, Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn on Saturday observed International Holocaust Remembrance Day, remembering the more than six million Jewish lives lost in the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazism.

Jan. 27 also marked the liberation of people from the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

“This solemn day of tribute, originally proclaimed by the United Nations, urges us to honor the victims of the Holocaust and to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to counter anti-Semitism,” Bichotte Hermelyn, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, told Caribbean Life.

“The Holocaust and the millions of innocent lives lost stand as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked hatred, discrimination, and the dangers of allowing prejudice to thrive,” she added.

The assemblywoman noted that New York is experiencing “an atrocious and alarming rising tide of hate crimes, with attacks against our Jewish communities skyrocketing since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel in October.”

She said that Brooklyn houses the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.

“Our borough, city and state have zero tolerance for hate, and I stand in resolute solidarity with all those affected,” said Bichotte Hermelyn, stating that she is supporting “strong responses to combat this tide of hate”, including Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to expand the offenses eligible as hate crimes, and introducing legislation to expand the scope of the victims defined under hate crimes.

“Let’s continue to move forward to a path where we’re all denouncing hatred and unified in promoting tolerance,” Bichotte Hermelyn urged.

In remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday issued a call for global unity against the rise of hate and division, cautioning that intolerance is proliferating rapidly and that no society is exempt from its reach.

Observing Saturday’s International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, he highlighted the millions of Jewish children, women and men, along with countless others, who suffered persecution and death during that dark period.

“We honor their memory. We stand with the survivors, their families and descendants. We pledge never to forget – nor let others forget the truth of what happened,” he said.

The UN said International Day of Commemoration is marked annually on Jan. 27, the date on which the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration and extermination camp was liberated in 1945.

The UN said this year’s observance, on the theme “Recognizing the Extraordinary Courage of Victims and Survivors of the Holocaust”, pays tribute to the bravery of all those who stood up to the Nazis, “despite the grave risks.”

Guterres underscored the ongoing relevance of the commemorative day in today’s world, where antisemitic hate is spreading rapidly, particularly online.

“But today, of all days, we must remember,” he said, “that demonization of the other and disdain for diversity is a danger to everyone … and that bigotry against one group is bigotry against all.”

In quoting the former Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, Jonathan Sacks, the UN chief reminded the international community that “the hate that begins with Jews never ends with Jews.”

“So today – especially in the wake of the abhorrent Oct. 7 terror attacks by Hamas – we must resolve to stand up against the forces of hate and division,” he said, calling for strongly condemning all forms of racism, hatred and prejudice.

Guterres emphasized the imperative to speak out against discrimination and intolerance, insisting on the defense of human rights and the dignity of every individual.

“Let us never lose sight of each other’s humanity, and never let down our guard,” he urged. “To all who confront prejudice and persecution, let us clearly say: you are not alone. The United Nations stands with you.”

Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) called for strengthening our commitment to sharing the memory of the victims of the Holocaust “to pass the torch on to future generations.”

“To honor the victims, but also to train future generations to identify and combat hate speech, this International Day reminds us of our essential duty to remember,” she said.

“May we remain vigilant,” she added, recalling the warning given by Hungarian writer and camp survivor Imre Kertész, that “Auschwitz was not an accident of history, there are many signs that its repetition is possible.”

Memorial ceremonies were held at UN offices worldwide, including the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the UN Office at Geneva and the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

At the ceremony in New York on Friday, the UN said Holocaust survivors Christian Pfeil and sisters Edith Tennenbaum Shapiro and Selma Tennenbaum Rossen shared their stories, alongside a prayer by Cantor Daniel Singer, and performances by violinist Doori Na, singers Petra and Patrik Gelbar.