Lord Dubs at Camden’s Holocaust Memorial Day event
Lord Alf Dubs, whose amendment to the Immigration Act means unaccompanied refugee children will be offered safe refuge in the United Kingdom, headed up the speakers at Camden’s Holocaust Memorial Day Event today (Friday, 27 January).
Lord Dubs said: "The Holocaust started with words - the vilification of Jewish and Roma people, disabled people and other minorities. If you allow this to be normalised that is a danger - and you have to go against it."
Hosted by Mayor of Camden, Councillor Nadia Shah, the event also included poems and films from Camden young people and PAN Arts (Pan Intercultural Arts) and reflections from Rabbi Larry Tabick.
The free event was held at The British Library Theatre and the audience included local residents and schoolchildren.
This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day Event considered the theme ‘How can life go on?’ both in regard to the Holocaust and more recent examples of human suffering, including the refugee crisis.
“The heinous crimes of the Holocaust and other genocides are amongst the most shameful atrocities committed in the history of the human race. Sadly, even in the twenty-first century we continue to see persecution of minorities, refugees fleeing from their homes and autocratic or lawless regimes spreading hate.
“Light exists even in the darkest moments, however, and as well as being a memorial, this event explored the efforts of those who strive to end division, to offer sanctuary and rebuild lives. We focused on the theme of supporting refugees fleeing from persecution, a role Camden has embraced, accepting 20 Syrian households since the crisis began in Aleppo.”
