Honoring the Past: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we confront the shadows of one of humanity’s bleakest chapters and acknowledge the profound atrocities committed during this period. Today, we honor the sacred memories of the millions of Jewish individuals who perished at the hands of the Nazi regime and its collaborators. We also remember the Slavs, Roma, individuals with disabilities, religious figures, those targeted for their sexual orientation, and political prisoners who faced systematic extermination. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that freedom, justice, and the intrinsic dignity of every human being triumph over the forces of evil, tyranny, and oppression.
Reflecting on Liberation: Auschwitz-Birkenau
January 27, 1945, marks 81 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest concentration and extermination camp established by the Nazis during World War II, where over one million souls were led to their tragic fates. Enclosed within its barbed-wire fences, the inmates were stripped not only of their possessions but of their very identity and dignity. Many were murdered outright, while others endured forced labor, starvation, disease, torture, and inhumane medical experiments. The sheer brutality of the conditions was unfathomable.
A Commitment to Remember and Act
The systematic annihilation of Jewish communities across Nazi-occupied Europe stands as a permanent stain on humanity’s conscience. Today, as we remember those who lost their lives during the Holocaust and honor the survivors who rebuilt their lives from the ashes, we renew our commitment that such evil will never again find a foothold in the West. Upon assuming office as the 47th President of the United States, I prioritized directing the Federal Government to leverage all available legal mechanisms to combat the rising tide of anti-Semitism. My administration remains a steadfast advocate for Jewish Americans and the fundamental right of every individual to practice their faith freely, openly, and without trepidation.
Honoring Survivors and Their Legacy
On this solemn occasion, we remember each man, woman, and child whose life was extinguished by the malevolence and hatred of the Nazi regime. We commend the survivors who have dedicated their lives to sharing their narratives while bearing the heavy burden of both visible and invisible scars. This International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and every day thereafter, we celebrate their enduring resilience, faith, and strength. We also reaffirm our commitment to the sacred truth that every human being is created in the divine image.
