[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E158-E159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING COUNTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR MARKING 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                        LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 25, 2005

  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a tragic 
anniversary, one which we can never afford to forget. Last week, my 
colleagues and I voted unanimously in support of a resolution 
commending countries and organizations for marking the 60th anniversary 
of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and urging a strengthening of 
the fight against racism, intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, 
discrimination, and anti-Semitism.
  January 27, 2005--marked the day 60 years ago that Soviet troops 
opened the gates of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland 
and liberated the Jewish prisoners who had managed to survive the 
atrocities committed within those walls.
  I join with many others in remembering those who perished, in 
honoring their memory, and in promising survivors: ``never again.''
  Countries around the world will commemorate this event as a reminder 
to us all of what can befall humanity when we turn away from injustice 
and fail to speak out when those in power single out innocents for 
persecution.
  Together, we have made progress in battling anti-Semitism around the 
world. As part

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of its effort to say ``never again'', the United Nations General 
Assembly last week, commemorated the six million Jews who perished in 
the Holocaust, a signal that the UN will assert leadership in the 
ongoing struggle against anti-Semitism.
  This year's memorial ceremonies are particularly important because 
concentration camp survivors are aging at a rapid rate and may not be 
able to participate in such future events.
  Despite ongoing efforts, Jews throughout the world continue to suffer 
vandalism, verbal assaults, and even physical attacks. On this day of 
commemoration, we should all resolve to work towards a world where the 
Holocaust can never happen again.

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