More than 80 years have passed since the beginning of the Holocaust, one of the darkest periods in the world’s collective history. More than six million Jews were murdered – two-thirds of the Jewish population in Europe – as well as millions of Romani people, LGBTQ2I+ persons, persons with disabilities and other dissidents.
The horrors of the Holocaust have impacted generations and continue to leave their mark. Stories and traditions that should have been passed down were lost forever, while new memories never had the chance to be made. The pain of these losses can never be measured – they must be remembered, and we as workers must do everything in our power to ensure that genocide never happens again, to anyone, anywhere.
Racism, discrimination and genocidal violence can never be allowed to take hold again. In the past year, cases of antisemitism and other hate crimes have risen dramatically, both in Canada and around the world. These events have caused anxiety and fear amongst our members and many communities across the country. This is unacceptable.
On the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, we reflect on the millions of Jews and other minorities who were murdered. Today, we remember them. But every day, we honour them by fighting against the hate and the structures that led to their genocide.
We must use our voices and our platform to stand against hate and celebrate our differences – our diversity of faith, race, ability, and identity. United together, those differences make us stronger.
If you are experiencing antisemitism or any other form of racial discrimination or harassment in the workplace, please consult our website for information on how to address the issue.
