Holocaust Memorial Day – 27 January
Between 1941 and 1945, six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. The Nazis also murdered millions of others including Roma, Gypsy and Sinti people, people with disabilities, gay people, and many whose political views or religious beliefs threatened the Nazi regime.
On 27 January 2000, the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, 46 governments signed the Stockholm Declaration and founded Holocaust Memorial Day. This day is to remember the millions murdered during the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia (1975-1979), Rwanda (1994), Bosnia (1995) and later Darfur in 2003.
On YouTube, you can watch Medway campus Chaplain Lynne Martin’s seven-minute video marking Holocaust Memorial Day, in which she shines a light on the hope, bravery and heroism of an individual in the midst of horror and atrocity. You can also learn more about the Holocaust by using your Kent login to access an online library of films.
Fighting antisemitism and hate at Kent
Prejudice, discrimination and hatred based solely on difference is still pervasive in society today. This includes anti-Jewish attitudes, with reports of antisemitism increasing at Universities, and the recently released investigation into antisemitism within the National Union of Student (NUS).
Antisemitism is a form of racism and religious discrimination and we do not tolerate it at Kent.
We have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and the Jewish Declaration of Antisemitism. This is an important statement of our solidarity with the Jewish community and our commitment to stamping out antisemitism at Kent.
Light the Darkness – 27 January, 16:00.
On 27 January at 16:00, you are invited remember pause and reflect by placing a battery-operated tea light in your window to honour Holocaust victims and show you stand against prejudice and hatred today. You can also wear purple in solidarity.
The battery-operated candles are available free from Mandela Reception from Friday 20 January. (For safety reasons, please do not use a candle with a real flame. Candles with flames are not allowed in University bedrooms or many privately rented properties.)
Tag @UniKent_CCL on your socials and use #HolocaustMemorialDay and #LightTheDarkness to share your commitment.
There are other opportunities to commemorate throughout the year, including Antisemitism Awareness Week in March and Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day on 22 August.
Reporting
If you or another student you know has been the target of antisemitism, or any other form of discrimination, prejudice or harassment, you can use our Report and Support service to report anonymously or get support from Kent’s new Specialist Wellbeing Adviser (Bullying/Discrimination/Hate Crime) who can support students in incidents of discrimination or harassment (regardless of where or when these took place).
Written by Becky Lamyman, Natalia Crisanti and Joshua Stevens, Student Services staff, 20.01.23