When the we started the #WeRemember Campaign several years ago, we asked people worldwide world to carry out a simple, yet meaningful task: Write the words “We Remember” on a sheet of paper, take a picture holding the sign, and post it to social media using the hashtag #WeRemember. The response was overwhelming.
Since then, and despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have continued to capture the public’s attention, through institutionalizing the use of the hashtag, as well as other avenues. One remarkable outcome has been the illumination of notable monuments, coupled with the projection of moving messages in public places.
These past few years have been difficult for us all - and has shown us why Holocaust education is needed now more than ever. While confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a rise in hateful and racist ideologies around the world. False conspiracy myths about minority groups are spreading like wildfire. Social media platform are being overrun with harmful content. It can all feel overwhelming for many. Even frightening.
January 27, 2022, marks 77 years since the Allied troops arrived at the gates of Auschwitz, but it is clear that the story of how they came to be there in the first place must be shared more widely. The Holocaust -- the murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators -- didn't occur in a vacuum. It was the product of unchecked hatred and collective silence. Now, more than ever, we must join together to remember the past, to build a better future for all.