CITY HAS PROMINENT ROLE IN REMEMBERING HOLOCAUST
Derby Telegraph, UK
January 22, 2015 Thursday
BY JOEY SEVERN; joey.severn@ derbytelegraph.co.uk
DERBY’S Holocaust memorial events will be broadcast to the nation as
part of the BBC’s coverage of the 70th anniversary of the liberation
of Auschwitz.
Derby is one of just three events in England that will be picked out
during the BBC2 programme on Tuesday night.
The city was chosen after national event organisers highlighted the
unique way in which the city marks the day.
Derby’s commemorations are organised by a group of volunteers from
all walks of the city’s life and supported by the Mayor’s office.
January 27 is officially designated Holocaust Memorial Day and is the
date on which the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust
under Nazi persecution are remembered, as well as those who have died
in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
Anne Johns, speaking on behalf of the group, said: “The BBC contacted
the national group who highlighted Derby as a place that had a unique
story to tell.
“Unlike many places, we actually commemorate three different genocides:
the Holocaust, Srebrenica and the Armenian genocide.
“It is very gratifying that the way the people in the city have come
together from different ethnic and faith groups has been recognised.
“I think it shows that we are working in the right direction in Derby
and that it will be great to have the city on a national stage.”
The programme, on Tuesday evening, will see 200 survivors from the
camp taking part in a special event to mark the date.
The filming in Derby will feature two members of the Bosnian community
– Medina Salkic, a Bosnian woman who lost many male relatives in the
Srebrenica massacre, and Bahrudin Muhic, who lost his father.
Originally a single day of events, Derby’s Holocaust memorial
commemorations now fill a whole week, including talks, films,
meditation, stone-setting, a multi-faith cathedral service, concerts,
exhibitions and more.
This year, 70 specially designed candles will be lit with Derby being
chosen as one of the locations.
Artist Anish Kapoor was commissioned to design the candles, one of
which will be paraded through the city during the keynote event in
the week of remembrance.
Anne said: “The main focus is on January 27, the date of the liberation
of Auschwitz, but this year we also mark in Derby the 20th anniversary
of the Srebrenica massacre and the 100th of the Armenian Genocide.
“We are delighted to have been selected to be part of this nationwide
commemoration.
“It is vital that we remember and reflect upon the horrors of the
past as well as honouring those who survived.
“It is also serves as a reminder that we must be aware of how these
tragedies began.
“It is crucial that we talk to one another and learn about the things
that unite us and overcome differences.
“Our group of volunteers is full of people from different communities
and faiths and seeing how that can help foster ties between those
people is fantastic.”
The Holocaust Memorial Day programme featuring Derby will be shown
on BBC2 at 7pm on Tuesday.