Dec 14, 2016
Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach Joins in Condemnation of Rising Racist and Bigoted Incidents
The Board of Directors and staff of the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach have joined with 90 Holocaust remembrance organizations and 71 Holocaust scholars of the Association of Holocaust Organizations to strongly condemn the recent surge in racially charged rhetoric and blatantly bigoted behaviors that have been cropping up in communities across the United States.
In a joint statement, the association called upon elected officials as well as civic and religious leaders to “forcefully and explicitly condemn the rise in hate speech and any attacks on our democratic principles.”
The statement, which was co-authored by members of the Association of Holocaust Organizations, a network dedicated to the advancement of Holocaust education, remembrance and research, is as follows:
“Recent months have seen a surge in unabashed racism and hate speech – including blatant anti-Semitism and attacks on Hispanics, Muslims, African Americans, women, the LGBTQ community, as well as other targeted groups. “Journalists have been threatened. Places of worship, schools and playgrounds have been defaced with Nazi symbols intended to intimidate and arouse fear. White supremacist groups have become self-congratulatory and emboldened.
“As Holocaust scholars, educators and institutions, we are alarmed by these trends. History teaches us that intolerance, unchecked, leads to persecution and violence. We denounce racism and the politics of fear that fuels it. We stand in solidarity with all vulnerable groups. We take Elie Wiesel’s words to heart: ‘I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation.’
“Therefore, we call upon all elected officials, as well as all civic and religious leaders, to forcefully and explicitly condemn the rise in hate speech and any attacks on our democratic principles. We call upon all media and social media platforms to refuse to provide a stage for hate groups and thus normalize their agenda. And we call upon all people of good conscience to be vigilant, to not be afraid and to speak out.”
The Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach is a Committee of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. For more information, call 305.538.1663 or visit www.HolocaustMemorialMiamiBeach.org.
