City Hall Remembers Holocaust

Last night saw a sombre remembrance taking place.

Stormont Junior Minister and East Belfast MLA Robin Newton (pictured) hosted the 9th regional Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration in Belfast City Hall.

The theme of this year's event was the 'Legacy of Hope' and marked the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp.

On hearing about the experiences of those who came through the Holocaust Junior Minister Newton said: "We cannot fail to be moved by the survivors' stories.

"Their resilience, their amazing capacity to rebuild their lives from the depth of despair and the contribution that each one has made to the world around them makes them exceptional.

"We need to learn from the Holocaust so that our attitudes, our words and our choices will be a positive influence on our community," he said.

Commenting on the 1945 liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Mr Newton added: "Sixty-five years after Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated we are still fighting many of the evils which led to its construction.

"It is so important that we pass on a 'Legacy of Hope' to our young people. By understanding how the Holocaust occurred, future generations may be spared the horror of repeating it," he concluded.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign will host public meetings at which the main speaker will be Auschwitz camp survivor Dr Hajo Meyer.

The Auschwitz survivor, author and activist will speak at the Grosvenor Hall, in Glengall Street.

But while timed to coincide with Holocaust Memorial Week, the speaker's theme will be about what he said is "Zionism's misuse of the Holocaust for its own political purposes".

Dr Meyer, an outspoken critic of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, will also be arguing that a campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel is both necessary and justified.

See: cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/ipsc/displayEvent.php?eventID=737

(BmCC/GK)