Liverpool landmarks glow purple for poignant reason
Landmarks across the city have been illuminated in one colour for a poignant reason. The Town Hall, St George’s Hall and the Cunard Building have all been turned purple in memory of the millions of victims of the Holocaust.
Held every January 27, Holocaust Memorial Day honours those who lost their lives to the Holocaust and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Bosnia, Armenia, Rwanda, and Darfur. This year's theme, 'For a Better Future’, highlights the importance of learning from the past as we move forward.
The city came together this morning to remember the horrors of the Holocaust on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia. To mark the occasion, there was a private wreath-laying at St John’s Gardens, followed by an invitation-only service at Liverpool Town Hall.
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Those in attendance included Lord Mayor, Cllr Richard Kemp, Rabbi Natan Fagleman and the president of the Merseyside Jewish Representative Council, Mr Barry Levene. They were joined by pupils from Alsop High School, Liverpool Lib Dem leader Carl Cashman, and Liverpool Council leader Liam Robinson.
The service was opened with a performance by musicians from King David High School, followed by a speech from Francine Palant, daughter of two Holocaust survivors. Memorial events continued into this evening as several of the city’s landmarks lit up in poignant tribute.
The ECHO has spoken with several second and third generation holocaust survivors this year - including a man who said he has a “black hole” in his family, the daughter of an LFC fan who stepped over dead bodies daily and a son who learnt about his mum's past through a BBC show.
Lord Mayor, Cllr Richard Kemp CBE said: “This year is a significant milestone, given that it is 80 years since Auschwitz was liberated and 30 years since the genocide in Bosnia.
"Like each Holocaust Memorial Day, it is a time to reflect and to consider what we can do as a city and community to combat prejudice in all its forms. Liverpool prides itself on being a diverse city and the better future we can work towards is where all communities can live together safely and with great respect for each other.
"Learning from the very worst things that humankind has done to itself is one of the most effective ways to prevent anything like this from ever happening again.”