Torbay honours Holocaust Memorial Day

Today (Monday, January 27), the flag at Torquay Town Hall has been lowered to half-mast to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.

Torbay Council is encouraging residents to remember genocide victims as the world marks Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of the date of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet Allied forces. 

Auschwitz was the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust organises a day commemorating Jewish victims of the Holocaust, other victims of Nazi persecution, and victims of more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.

Above: Torquay Town Hall. Image: Torbay Council

The theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is ‘For a Better Future’. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust is promoting ways people can learn, remember, and act to reduce hate and discrimination in the UK.

The Civic Mayor of Torbay, Councillor Hannah Stevens, said: “It is important for Torbay to remember the six million Jews and others persecuted by the Nazis, as well as victims of more recent genocides. These events, including those in Bosnia, Darfur, Rwanda, and Cambodia, are not distant history but ongoing reminders of hatred.

“The Holocaust teaches us to learn from the past, speak out against persecution, and take action to create a better future. We as a council are proud to mark this day and raise awareness so that people realise how important freedom is.”