Holocaust Memorial Day 2014
Cllr John Cotton
This year's Holocaust Memorial Day will be commemorated at Birmingham's Town Hall on Sunday 26 January at 2pm. The free event includes individual testimonies, candle lighting, drama, films, poems, prayers and music.
Holocaust Memorial Day is part of an international day of remembrance and commemorates the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and Nazi persecutions, as well as other worldwide genocides. As such it provides a significant opportunity to learn lessons and apply them to the present day to create a safer, better future. This year's ceremony is inspired by the theme Journeys and provides an opportunity to reflect on the forced journeys made by millions of people during The Holocaust and subsequent genocides.
Doors open at 1.30pm and members of the public will be invited to write details of a journey in the foyer of the Town Hall and light a candle of remembrance. The ceremony will be led by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham Cllr Mike Leddy and the programme includes testimonies from survivors, including Mindu Hornick who survived Auschwitz, and specially commissioned pieces from Birmingham's Poet Laureate, Joanna Skelt and Birmingham's Young Poet Laureate, Lauren Williams. There will also be a performance of a specially written play by Jonathan Gurling - 'Dangerous Journey'.
Birmingham City Council cabinet member for Social Cohesion and Equalities, Cllr John Cotton, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect on the Holocaust and subsequent genocides and to commit to learning the lessons of these horrific events. I will be lighting a candle at this year's event in remembrance of all victims of atrocities and genocides around the world, and for those who are still being killed through war, conflict and crimes of hate.”
The ceremony is organised by Birmingham City Council in conjunction with local communities and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. For further information visit http://www.hmd.org.uk/ or call 0121 303 3008.
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For further media information contact Debbie Harrison on 0121 303 4476 / 078801 80385
Note to Editors
Full programme
1.30pm
Visitors are invited to write details of a journey in the foyer at the Town Hall. Visitors are invited to light a candle of remembrance.
2pm
Welcome - The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Mike Leddy
Candle Lighting Ceremony
One minute silence
Drama - Dangerous Journey
Speaker - Mindu Hornick, Auschwitz survivor
Holocaust Memorial Day Film
Poet Laureate - Joanna Skelt
Vivat Choir
Appolinaire - Rwanda Film
Speaker - Lia Lesser, Kinder Transport
Film - Sikh Genocide
Young Poet Laureate - Lauren Williams
Speaker - Major Sam Edgar, Faith Leaders Group
Memorial Prayer - Rabbi Yossi Jacobs
Statement of Commitment, Lord Mayor of Birmingham
Event closes
(Programme subject to change. Correct at time of writing.)
