SENATE RESOLUTION
8670
By Senators Salomon and Hasegawa
WHEREAS, January 27th is observed annually as International Holocaust Remembrance Day to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to ensure that future generations understand the importance of preventing hatred, prejudice, and discrimination; and
WHEREAS, January 27, 2026, marks the 81st anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, where more than 1.1 million men, women, and children were brutally murdered by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust; and
WHEREAS, The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the systematic state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during World War II, and millions of others, including Roma, Poles, disabled individuals, LGBTQ individuals, Soviet prisoners of war, and political dissidents, were also targeted; and
WHEREAS, The memory of the Holocaust serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of intolerance, bigotry, and hatred, and underscores the importance of promoting respect for human rights, equality, and the dignity of all people; and
WHEREAS, Antisemitism, including harassment on the basis of actual or perceived Jewish origin, ancestry, ethnicity, identity, affiliation, or faith, remains a disturbingly persistent, pervasive and growing problem; and
WHEREAS, According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents in Washington state have risen 268 percent since 2023; and
WHEREAS, The Washington state Senate reflects on the lessons of the Holocaust and continues to work together to build a future that values the humanity of each individual, free of antisemitism, hatred, and bigotry; and
WHEREAS, Survivors of the Holocaust, their families, and communities, as well as the organizations dedicated to preserving Holocaust history, serve as living testaments to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated; and
WHEREAS, This day calls for the education of future generations about the history and impact of the Holocaust, the importance of combating antisemitism, intolerance, and all forms of hate to ensure that never again means never again;