Antisemitism is rising, and Holocaust Memorial Day is falling in observation and remembrance. We need it more, not less. It’s not a competitive hierarchy of hate. We memorialise others too, we condemn all genocides, or race, belief, and identity-based hate.
Just because we observe HMD, does not mean we are ignoring the Palestinians, Sudanese Masalit, Syrian minorities, Myanmar Rohingya, Chinese Uyghurs, Armenians, Kurds, Afghan Hazaras, etc.
“The number of schools marking Holocaust Memorial Day has fallen sharply, from 2,000 in 2023 to 1,200 in 2024, and only 850 in 2025. Teachers express uncertainty about discussing modern conflicts. Some refuse to mark Holocaust Memorial Day unless it is reframed” – Lord Pickles in Parliament
Holocaust Memorial Day is still critical to remember, despite its decline in observation. We live at a time when the Jewish people remain villified, some blamed for the actions of an Israeli government 3,000 miles away, actions many of them critique themselves. Actions, whatever your views as to their excessive nature were brought on by a message of hate, sometimes mutual by extremists on both sides.
Hate crime statistics against Jews are “the highest rate for any group by some distance,” especially since October 7.
The Nazis spoke of Lebensunwertes Leben “life unworthy of life”, especially the Jews but also of others, e.g., gay people:
“We must exterminate these people (homosexuals) root and branch… We can’t permit such danger to the country; the homosexual must be entirely eliminated.” – Heinrich Himmler
Swap out ‘homosexual’ and replace it with Israeli, Palestinian, Immigrant, Transgender… and you know we haven’t left behind the language of hate.
Many people don’t realise that Roma, those with mental and physical disabilities, abortionists, Jehovah Witnesses, non-conformist pastors and clergy, certain intellectual opponents, communists, and tens of thousands of homosexuals were sent to concentration camps by the Nazis.
We remember Holocaust Memorial Day, so as not to repeat it or the cycle of hate and monstering of others that leads to it.
These days, that remains the Jewish people but also Palestinians, Rohingya Muslims, Immigrants and Asylum Seekers, and, yes, Trans people. Not all of these face death but the language of dehumanisation, of erasure, is often the crucible for worse things.
“Holocaust Memorial Day is a time when we seek to learn the lessons of the past and recognise that genocide does not just take place on its own – it’s a steady process which can begin if discrimination, racism and hatred are not checked and prevented. Discrimination has not ended, nor has the use of the language of hatred or exclusion. There is still much to do to create a safer future and HMD is an opportunity to start this process.” (HMD Trust)
It begins with words, those we use of others, to ‘other‘ them. Yes, we have freedom of speech, but that’s not a freedom to hate.
Hate leads to dehumanisation and harm, harm to holocaust.
We must stand up, wherever and for whomever, against all forms of dehumanisation. History teaches us where it leads.
“First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.” – Pastor Martin Niemoller
If your activism involves dehumanising others even those that dehumanise you, you’re still part of the cycle of hate, even if it feels warranted, justified. Sometimes we’re called to arms to defend democracy, to defeat fascism or any militant extremism, but in the end we have to coexist, heal, rebuild, that’s why we have to humanise even our opponents and enemies. As we’ve seen in the Holocaust, where dehumanisation leads.
“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.