Havering commemorates Holocaust Memorial Day

The Mayor of Havering, Cllr Stephanie Nunn, joined Cllr Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council, borough representatives, staff and residents to remember the millions of people killed in genocides across the world, on Sunday 21 January at Coronation Gardens, Romford. 

Holocaust Memorial Day, commemorated nationally on 27 January, where at 8pm on people across the nation are invited to light candles and remember the millions of people who have been murdered, or whose lives were changed beyond recognition due to Nazi persecution and other subsequent genocides, such as those in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

This year’s theme for Holocaust Memorial Day is the Fragility of Freedom.

At the service, the Mayor of Havering’s speech reflected on how freedom is fragile and vulnerable to abuse, but by working together in our communities, we can pledge not to take our freedoms for granted as we each have a role in strengthening those freedoms.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, culminating in the murder of over one million Tutsis in just one hundred days, following decades of tension and violence.

Mayor of Havering, Councillor Stephanie Nunn, said:

“The service provides the opportunity for Havering to reflect on those who lost their lives and those who survived, the terrible events of the Holocaust and other atrocities.

“Holocaust Memorial Day should act as a solemn reminder that we must never forget these atrocities and that we all have a part to play to ensure freedom endures and that persecution and division should never prevail.

"We all have a responsibility to end discrimination and work together for a safer, better, future for everyone.”