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

     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, This year 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

collaborators during World War II. 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, There has been a sharp rise in antisemitism and extremism this past year in

Rhode Island, across the country, and around the world; and

     WHEREAS, The citizens of Rhode Island are encouraged to reflect on the lessons of the

Holocaust and continue 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 their 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, Holocaust Remembrance 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; now, therefore be

it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

recognizes January 27th of 2026, as “International Holocaust Remembrance Day”, a day of

reflection and remembrance for the victims and survivors of the Holocaust. We moreover

encourage the citizens of our State to participate in activities and educational programs that foster

a deeper understanding of the Holocaust, its historical context, and the ongoing fight against

hatred, discrimination, and antisemitism; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House hereby reaffirms its commitment to support survivors of

the Holocaust and honor the legacy of those who perished in the Holocaust by ensuring that their

memory endures for generations to come; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the United States Holocaust Memorial

Museum, the Rhode Island Holocaust Museum, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, the

Jewish Community Center of Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Israel Collaborative.

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