Holocaust Memorial Day marked in Hinckley
Councillors Mathew Hulbert and Michael Mullaney attended a Holocaust Memorial Service at St Mary's Church in Hinckley.
It included readings, music and a video reflecting on the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.
Councillor Hulbert took part in the occasion, reading passages about the life of Eric Murunga, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Earlier in the day Mathew Hulbert and Michael Mullaney visited the offices of the Next Generation charity in the town to look at a display that had been set up there to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
Councillor Hulbert had worked with Shani Smith and Will Hare, from Next Generation, to set up the display.
Reflecting on the day Councillor Mullaney says, "The service at St Mary's was poignant and moving.
"On Holocaust Memorial Day we shared the memory of the millions who have been murdered in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur in order to challenge hatred and persecution in the UK today.
"This message is particularly pertinent in light of the recent events in Paris, which saw millions of people taking to the streets in solidarity, in remembrance and in defence of the values of freedom, openness and tolerance for those of all faiths and none.
"We must all pledge to learn the lessons of this day, of the need for peace, tolerance and the reconciliation of people's and apply them to the present day to create a better, brighter and more inclusive future."
"Holocaust Memorial Day is, therefore, an important focal point in the year.
"It is vital that we reflect upon the horrors of the past and honour those who survived."
Councillor Hulbert, who is a Local Organiser with The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, the charity that promotes and supports Holocaust Memorial Day, says "It's so important that we never forget what happened in the Holocaust and in the genocides that have happened since then and, indeed, tragically, the one that still goes on today in Darfur and Chad in Western Sudan."
"We must never forget the six million Jewish people who were killed by the Nazi regime and their collaborators, as well as the five million other people killed just because they were seen as different, including Gay people, people with disabilities or those people killed because of their ethnic background, and those who've died in latter genocides.
"We must reject the politics of fear and division, from whatever quarter it comes, and redouble our efforts to embrace our differences-whether in terms of religion, culture, background, sexuality or the myriad other ways that make us unique-whilst also recognising our common humanity."
"Each Holocaust Memorial Day we repeat two words, but they must be more than just words. We must take them to our hearts and mean them. Never Again."