Havering came together yesterday afternoon (January 22) at a “humbling” service commemorating the millions who died in the Holocaust and other genocides across the world.
Organised ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day, on January 27, the service at Romford’s Coronation Gardens paid tribute to those who lost their lives in genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, as well as under the Nazi regime.
This year's theme, ‘Ordinary People’, is intended to prompt consideration of those involved in all aspects of genocides, from perpetrators and bystanders to victims.
Led by Romford Rabbi Lee Sunderland, the service featured speakers including Sidra Naeem, deputy lieutenant for Essex, and Havering Council leader Ray Morgon, who read a poem.
One of the deputy lieutenants of London, Mike Brace, was also in attendance, and was among those to lay a candle by the memorial stone.
The mayor of Havering, Cllr Trevor McKeever, who gave a speech, told the Recorder: “It was humbling to see people of all sectors of the community come together in solidarity to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
“This ceremony gave us the opportunity to reflect on those who lost their lives and those who survived the terrible events of the Holocaust. This also includes antisemitism and all other forms of racism, intolerance, bigotry and hatred, which we ignore at our peril.
"We all have a responsibility to end discrimination and work together for a safer, better, future for everyone.”
Andrew Rosindell, Conservative MP for Romford, described the service as “an opportunity to listen to Jewish voices across the constituency and to come to terms with the horrors which took place during those harrowing years.”
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He added: “Holocaust remembrance serves as a perpetual reminder, and warning, of how the very nature and fundamentals of extremist politics is poisonous with very real, violent consequences and repercussions. But most importantly, Holocaust remembrance serves as a tribute to those who fell during an epoch of onslaught, tyranny, and terror.”
Margaret Mullane, Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Dagenham and Rainham, said: “It was a moving experience to take part in the Holocaust Memorial service. It is vital that we never forget the atrocity committed by the Nazis.
“It must be remembered to honour the six million people murdered and also to alert the world to make sure that it is never allowed to be repeated.”
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