HOUSE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JANUARY 27TH OF 2026, AS "INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY" AND COMMEMORATING THE 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ

H7328

2026 -- H 7328
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
RECOGNIZING JANUARY 27TH OF 2026, AS "INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST
REMEMBRANCE DAY" AND COMMEMORATING THE 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE
LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ

Introduced By:
Representatives Ackerman, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Kislak, Finkelman, Boylan, McNamara, Knight, and Place

Date Introduced:
January 27, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, January 27th is observed annually as International Holocaust Remembrance
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Day to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to ensure that future generations
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understand the importance of preventing hatred, prejudice, and discrimination; and
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WHEREAS, This year marks the 81st Anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz
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concentration camp, where more than 1.1 million men, women and children were brutally
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murdered by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust; and
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WHEREAS, The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the systematic state-
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sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews by Nazi Germany and
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collaborators during World War II. Millions of others, including Roma, Poles, disabled
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individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals, Soviet prisoners of war, and political dissidents, were also
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targeted; and
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WHEREAS, The memory of the Holocaust serves as a stark reminder of the devastating
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consequences of intolerance, bigotry, and hatred, and underscores the importance of promoting
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respect for human rights, equality, and the dignity of all people; and
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WHEREAS, Antisemitism, including harassment on the basis of actual or perceived
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Jewish origin, ancestry, ethnicity, identity, affiliation or faith, remains a disturbingly persistent,
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pervasive and growing problem; and
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WHEREAS, There has been a sharp rise in antisemitism and extremism this past year in
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Rhode Island, across the country, and around the world; and

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WHEREAS, The citizens of Rhode Island are encouraged to reflect on the lessons of the
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Holocaust and continue to work together to build a future that values the humanity of each
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individual, free of antisemitism, hatred and bigotry; and
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WHEREAS, Survivors of the Holocaust, their families and their communities, as well as
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the organizations dedicated to preserving Holocaust history, serve as living testaments to the
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resilience of the human spirit and the importance of ensuring that such atrocities are never
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repeated; and
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WHEREAS, Holocaust Remembrance Day calls for the education of future generations
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about the history and impact of the Holocaust, the importance of combating antisemitism,
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intolerance, and all forms of hate to ensure that never again means never again; now, therefore be
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it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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recognizes January 27th of 2026, as “International Holocaust Remembrance Day”, a day of
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reflection and remembrance for the victims and survivors of the Holocaust. We moreover
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encourage the citizens of our State to participate in activities and educational programs that foster
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a deeper understanding of the Holocaust, its historical context, and the ongoing fight against
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hatred, discrimination, and antisemitism; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That this House hereby reaffirms its commitment to support survivors of
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the Holocaust and honor the legacy of those who perished in the Holocaust by ensuring that their
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memory endures for generations to come; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the United States Holocaust Memorial
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Museum, the Rhode Island Holocaust Museum, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, the
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Jewish Community Center of Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Israel Collaborative.
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