Holocaust Memorial Day 2019

Holocaust Memorial Day commemorates the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and Nazi persecutions, as well as other genocides around the world.

The ceremony, in the Banqueting Suite, will be hosted by Cllr Tristan Chatfield, Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Community Safety and Equalities and led by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Yvonne Mosquito.

The commemorative event will include testimony from Holocaust survivors Courtenay Harris and Hannelore Napier, along with prayers and music – including performances from Kirsty Robinson, the Singers Hill Youth Orchestra, Bordesley Green Girls School. Birmingham’s Young Poet Laureate, Aliyah Begum, will read a specially commissioned poem for the event.

Doors open at 1pm, and visitors will be invited to light a candle of remembrance before the ceremony begins at 2pm. All are welcome and admission is free.

Lord Mayor Cllr Yvonne Mosquito said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity for everyone to pause, reflect and learn lessons from the past and apply them to our lives today, to help create a safer, better future.

“It is a privilege for me to be lighting a candle for victims of atrocities and genocides around the world, as well as those who have sadly lost their lives through war, conflict and hate crime.  I hope as many people as possible will join me in this act of remembrance on Sunday (27 January).”

This year’s theme is Torn From Home, which encourages people to reflect on how the loss of a safe place to call ‘home’ is part of the trauma faced by anyone experiencing persecution or genocide.

For more information about Holocaust Memorial Day, please visit: www.hmd.org.uk