Holocaust Memorial Day: Ordinary people

Today, 78 years ago, the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated. It was the epicentre of horror, mass murder and the most evil atrocities of the Nazi regime, its victims singled out simply because they were different from those in power.

Today, 78 years later, we commemorate the 6 million Jews who were murdered in the Shoah, and millions of others killed by the Nazis including Poles, Roma, homosexuals, Slavs and disabled people. We also remember those who died in other genocides during history.

This year's theme for Holocaust Memorial Day is "Ordinary People".

'What is abnormal is that I am normal. That I survived the Holocaust and went on to love beautiful girls, to talk, to write, to have toast and tea and live my life – that is what is abnormal.'

Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the Holocaust

Those who died at hands of Nazis and in the subsequent genocides that took place in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur were murdered by ordinary people who were in power. It was also ordinary people across Europe who refused to look the other way during the Shoah; who helped Jews to survive, hide and flee the Nazi terror.

As ordinary people, as a community and as human beings, it is within our power to challenge racism and discrimination, to educate others, and to advocate for a better and kinder future.

This history is a constant reminder to us all to stand against hateful ideologies and extremist movements. We do not compare the present day to the awful crimes of the past: we only stand as witnesses to the testimonies of survivors and commit ourselves to ensuring that the past will not repeat itself.

Remember to report antisemitism to CST at cst.org.uk/report or 0800 032 3263. In an emergency always call the police on 999.