Light the darkness to honour Holocaust Memorial Day 2024

Tamworth to honour Holocaust Memorial Day by lighting a candle Tamworth Castle will light-up purple from 4pm Mayor of Tamworth will lay wreath outside St Editha’s Church

Tamworth Borough Council will honour Holocaust Memorial Day on Saturday 27 January, by lighting the castle purple on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

Fragility of Freedom is the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2024; communities can reflect on how freedom is fragile, vulnerable to abuse, and pledge not to take our freedoms for granted by considering what we can do to strengthen freedoms around the world.

Holocaust Memorial Day remembers all aspects of the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. In remembrance of those who were killed, Tamworth Borough Council will light the castle purple from 4pm on 27 January, to Light the Darkness in memory victims of the Holocaust and other genocides, in tribute to the survivors and to take a stand against prejudice, discrimination and hatred today.

Residents are encouraged to join the remembrance by placing a lit candle in their window to Light the Darkness and join the online conversation, helping spread messages of tolerance and understanding. People are also invited to share a photo of their candle on social media using the hashtags #HolocaustMemorialDay and #LightTheDarkness.

The council has approached local primary schools offering a package to create a ‘Green Memorial’ in their Year 6 classrooms. This will consist of a paintable flower box, plants, bulbs and soil.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) provides teaching resources for schools to help raise awareness of an important part of human history, but also encourage inclusion and acceptance of difference messaging in their classroom.

Resources include book clubs, poetry writing and online ceremonies as well as sharing messages on social media to help people learn more about the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and more recent genocides. 

If you would like to find out more about taking part in Holocaust Memorial Day online visit www.hmd.org.uk/marking-holocaust-memorial-day-online.   

Mayor of Tamworth, Councillor John Harper, will be placing a wreath in remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides, at the memorial site outside St Editha’s Church on January 27. This will take place at 11am.

The Mayor said: “The Holocaust threatened the fabric of civilisation, and genocide must still be resisted every day. Our world often feels fragile and vulnerable, and we cannot be complacent. Even in the UK, prejudice and the language of hatred must be challenged by us all.

“Each year across the UK, thousands of people come together to learn more about the past and take action to create a safer future. I feel it is important to support the Holocaust Memorial Day and as a town encourage remembrance of the six million Jews murdered during that time.

“Together we bear witness for those who endured genocide and honour the survivors and all those whose lives were changed beyond recognition.”