Press Release
Published on January 26, 2018
New York City—To commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Human Rights First urges the U.S. government to deepen its efforts to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry at home and abroad. The annual tribute, which marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and honors the six million Jewish and other victims murdered by the Nazi regime, occurs on January 27.
“I welcome the statement issued by President Trump today concerning International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which says of all the right things. But given President Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric and exclusionary policies over the course of his first year in office, much of his statement rings hollow,” said Human Rights First’s Rob Berschinski. “The president should heed his own advice. He needs to stop fanning the flames of intolerance and follow today’s statement with real action to prevent hate crimes and discrimination at home and abroad.”
This year’s Holocaust Remembrance Day comes as the United States and many U.S. allies in Europe face a resurgence of antisemitism and other forms of intolerance. Over the past year, President Trump has stoked fear, exploited bigotry, and inflamed racial tensions. From his discriminatory refugee ban to his equivocal response to the violence driven by white supremacists in Charlottesville, President Trump’s words and actions have given haven to those espousing hatred.
Human Rights First further calls on the Trump Administration to appoint immediately an appropriately qualified Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. The position, when filled and adequately resourced, performs critical work documenting and preventing incidents and crimes against Jewish communities.
