HOLOCAUST MARKED IN SANDWELL
Steve Bradley
Birmingham Mail
s/2009/01/26/holocaust-marked-in-sandwell-97319-22 781522/
Jan 26 2009
UK
EVENTS were held across the Black Country to recall how millions of
Jews died at the hands of the Nazis.
Sandwell’s Mayor Coun Bob Price led a Holocaust memorial event at
the Memorial Gardens in West Bromwich yesterday.
Representatives from the Royal British Legion and the local Jewish
community attended, with young people from Coneygre Arts Centre,
Tipton.
The ceremony began with the laying of a wreath and a minute’s silence
and reflected on the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust’s theme, which is
Stand Up To Hatred.
Coun Price said: "It is essential we do not forget the tragic loss of
life in the Holocaust and other genocides such as Cambodia, Bosnia,
Rwanda and Darfur. It is right Sandwell marks this day, this year
as part of Sandwell’s Year of Communities, so we can remember these
tragedies, ensure they are not forgotten and stand together against
prejudice, racism and discrimination."
At Walsall’s New Art Gallery on Saturday, Walsall Multi-Faith Forum
joined councillors and education provider Serco in a Holocaust
commemorative event.
Mayor Coun Tom Ansell lit a candle of remembrance and reflected Nazi
atrocities had been reflected in genocides in Africa. He said 90 per
cent were caused by politics rather than religion.
Hindu representative Manu Vyas said Hitler’s methods were similar to
those used in the driving out of Hindus from Kashmir, and the massacre
of Armenians by the Turks.
Matloob Hussain, chairman of the Union of Muslim Organisations in
Walsall, said: "We should learn from history and move together as
God’s children, as human beings."