Hoyer Statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today on Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaShoah:

"Today, I join countless people throughout America and around the world in observing Yom HaShoah and in remembering the 6 million Jews, as well as the 5 million other victims, who perished in the Holocaust. As we reflect on the hatred, discrimination, and violence that defined the Nazis' genocidal campaign, we also find inspiration in the courage, resilience, and heroism displayed by its survivors and victims, as well as by those who risked their lives to help them.

"Indeed, this week also marks the eightieth anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising – the largest Jewish revolt of the Second World War. Rather than board the trains to the Nazis' extermination camps in April 1943, men, women, and even children fought for their freedom despite knowing that their chances of victory were slim. In that noble act of resistance, they followed in the footsteps of their forbearers who fled pharaohs and defied emperors. Their story continues to inspire us today, just as it inspired further resistance against the Nazi occupation in World War II.

"Holocaust remembrance remains relevant today – especially amid the growing anti-Semitism we have witnessed in our society. Sadly, some elected officials, celebrities, and other influential leaders continue to downplay, deny, or even glorify the Nazis' attempted annihilation of the Jewish people. This vile hatred threatens our democracy and endangers lives. Prejudice has no place in our country and neither do those who promulgate it. The lessons that we gleaned from that dark chapter in human history must continue to guide us as we seek to promote freedom, inclusivity, and human rights around the world."