Schakowsky Statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day:

"On this Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, we join together to remember the 6 million Jewish lives stolen by Nazi Germany. We also remember the millions of other innocent victims who perished alongside them -- Roma and Sinti, Slavs, disabled persons, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others systematically murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators.

"For the Jewish people, this was the darkest moment in history; a moment that we must never forget, never allow to be forgotten, and never allow to happen again. Today especially, we must recommit ourselves to "Never Forget' and "Never Again.' We have seen unchecked hate, ignorance, and nationalism lead not only to an increase in hate crimes within our own communities, but also widespread discrimination, death, and destruction around the world.

"Earlier this month, we witnessed another hateful attack against the Jewish community in Colleyville, Texas. In the last year, we have seen horrifying attacks against Asian Americans, with the FBI recording the highest number of hate crimes in over a decade. In the Illinois Ninth, where we have one of the largest concentrations of Holocaust survivors, we saw a Skokie synagogue vandalized and its windows shattered. And around the world we see people being targeted because of their faith, race, and sexual and gender identity. We must aggressively work to bring attention to their plight and ensure that human rights are upheld and respected around the globe. We must stand in solidarity to oppose anti-Semitism and all forms of hate wherever they occur. And we must speak up in the face of hatred and indifference. Together we will "Never Forget' and together we will ensure "Never Again.'"

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