A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE JANUARY 27, 2026, AS "INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA, A DAY OF REFLECTION AND REMEMBRANCE FOR THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST; TO ENCOURAGE THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE HOLOCAUST, ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT, AND THE ONGOING FIGHT AGAINST HATRED, DISCRIMINATION, AND ANTISEMITISM; AND TO REAFFIRM THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST AND HONOR THE LEGACY OF THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THE HOLOCAUST BY ENSURING THAT THEIR MEMORY ENDURES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

 

Whereas, January twenty-seventh is observed annually as International Holocaust Remembrance Day to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to ensure that future generations understand the importance of preventing hatred, prejudice, and discrimination; and

 

Whereas, January 27, 2026, marks the eighty-first anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, where more than 1.1 million men, women, and children were brutally murdered by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust; and

 

Whereas, the Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during World War II, and millions of others, including Roma, Poles, disabled individuals, LGBTQ individuals, Soviet prisoners of war, and political dissidents, were also targeted; and

 

Whereas, the memory of the Holocaust serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of intolerance, bigotry, and hatred, and underscores the importance of promoting respect for human rights, equality, and the dignity of all people; and

 

Whereas, antisemitism, including harassment on the basis of actual or perceived Jewish origin, ancestry, ethnicity, identity, affiliation, or faith, remains a disturbingly persistent, pervasive, and growing problem; and

 

Whereas, there has been a sharp rise in antisemitism and extremism this past year in South Carolina, across the country, and around the world; and

 

Whereas, the citizens of South Carolina are encouraged to reflect on the lessons of the Holocaust and to continue to work together to build a future that values the humanity of each individual, free of antisemitism, hatred, and bigotry; and

 

Whereas, survivors of the Holocaust, their families, and communities, as well as the organizations dedicated to preserving Holocaust history, serve as living testaments to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated; and

 

Whereas, this day calls for the education of future generations about the history and impact of the Holocaust, the importance of combating antisemitism, intolerance, and all forms of hate to ensure that never again means never again. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize January 27, 2026, as "International Holocaust Remembrance Day" in the State of South Carolina, a day of reflection and remembrance for the victims and survivors of the Holocaust; encourage the citizens of South Carolina to participate in activities and educational programs that foster a deeper understanding of the Holocaust, its historical context, and the ongoing fight against hatred, discrimination, and antisemitism; and reaffirm the state's commitment to support survivors of the Holocaust and honor the legacy of those who perished in the Holocaust by ensuring that their memory endures for generations to come.

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