R 069
2026 -- H 7328
Enacted 01/27/2026

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

     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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LC004061
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