Page 3 - CUFI Update - Spring 2019

CUFI is currently running a petition to gather support for the National Holocaust
Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens next to the Houses of Parliament that is currently seeking planning consent. More than 8,500 people have signed the petition so far!
We live in a time of rising anti- Semitism in Britain with an increasing number of people who have never heard about the Holocaust. As part of our Christians Against Anti-Semitism campaign, we are determined to educate future generations about the Holocaust and preserve the lessons from history. This memorial will do just that.
Six million Jews were murdered
at the hands of Hitler’s Nazi regime throughout Europe and hundreds
of thousands of British and Commonwealth soldiers also lost their lives fighting against that same hatred.
Britain played an important role
in bringing about an end to the worst genocide in history and we believe it is right for our nation to have a permanent memorial to the Holocaust in the heart of our capital.
Sadly, there is now opposition to this worthy cause.
This includes conspiracy theories about Jews trying to claim the site and impose their will on the government, which is completely false. Others oppose the monument because of “politics” or even “Palestine”, which should not even be a factor. Others say the monument
is to spread “Zionist propaganda”. And of course there are those who deny the Holocaust altogether.
The anti-Semitism being espoused by those who oppose this memorial is the reason why this memorial must go ahead. We
CUFI is fighting
for the National Holocaust Memorial in Westminster
must stop the spread of hatred and educate people with the truth. Some of the opposition to the
memorial is environmental. However, the proposed memorial uses just 7% of the park with the education centre being underground. The large green space will still be available to the public.
The questions to those who oppose this construction on an environmental level are:
• Is 7% of Victoria Tower Gardens worth more than honouring the 6 million Jews who were brutally murdered during the Holocaust?
• Is preserving a small part of a green space worth more than educating future generations against the hatred of anti-Semitism?
The location of the memorial is also important. Parliament was the stage for British leaders to proclaim their opposition to Nazi Germany and rally the nation against this hatred.
For example, in the House of Lords, Archbishop William Temple spoke of
the “massacres and starvation” of the Jews by the Nazis. He gave a powerful speech saying, “We at this moment have upon us a tremendous responsibility. We stand at the bar of history, of humanity and of God.”
Once again Britain has a tremendous responsibility to stand against anti-Semitism.
Today, few people remain who remember those darkest days in history and there are signs that our nation is forgetting the horrors of the past, which is why we must support initiatives like this.
Recent reports show a growing number of people in this country, especially the younger generation, who know “nothing” or “very little” about the Holocaust. And 64% of the country does not know the number of people killed in
the Holocaust.
Furthermore, 5% of the country does
not believe the Holocaust happened
at all, with a further 8% thinking it is exaggerated. We have to educate people with the truth!
Anti-Semitism in Britain has increased in recent years with 2018 having the highest number of anti- Semitic attacks on Jews in this country than ever before. And with recent problems of anti-Semitism within certain political parties, Parliament itself has a huge responsibility to lead by example in confronting anti-Semitism.
The good news is that this memorial is supported by many.
More than 8,500 people have signed our petition giving support to this worthy cause.
Importantly, the memorial has the backing of every major Jewish organisation in the UK and more than 170 politicians from across political parties support the plans.
The vast majority of people in Britain see the importance of Holocaust education with 86% of those surveyed saying it was important to teach about the Holocaust in schools.
The government’s Holocaust Memorial Foundation, which is spearheading this development, says, “Situated next to Parliament, the Memorial will stand as a permanent reminder of the responsibilities of citizens in a democracy to be vigilant and responsive whenever our values are threatened,” and that it will “reaffirm Britain’s commitment to stand up against antisemitism, prejudice and hatred in all its forms.”
This is why we are fully supportive of the memorial’s construction. We invite you to add your name to our petition at www.cufi.org.uk/campaigns
Thank you for standing with us.