Shaugn Schwartz has seen firsthand that antisemitism is still “very present” in New Westminster.
The New West resident appeared at the Jan. 13 council meeting to thank the city for proclaiming Jan. 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
“It's really important for my community being a New Wester and a Jew that council had the foresight to recognize this day,” he said. “Of course, the Holocaust was an absolutely terrible time. Six million Jews were eliminated.”
Schwartz said it’s important to remind people about the Holocaust and about “the tremendous capacity for evil” that exists in the world. He told council that his family had been personally touched by the Holocaust, with some relatives being murdered; his children are named after five- and 18-year-old relatives who were killed during the Holocaust in the Second World War.
“It's really important to recognize these days so others can learn from history,” he said.
Schwartz, who has lived in New Westminster for eight years, said hate against Jews is ever present. During his time in the city, he said he’s had letters of hate left at his door and has seen swastikas in Moody Park.
“You folks will probably remember when there was love locks down in Pier Park,” he told council. “Well, some antisemite thought it was good idea to write swastikas on all the love locks so we went down and scrubbed them off. So, antisemitism is still very present.”
In 2005, the United National General Assembly designated Jan. 27 – the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau – as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, said the proclamation.
“On this annual day of commemoration, every member state of the U.N. has an obligation to honour the victims of the Nazi era and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides,” said the city’s proclamation. “The U.N. resolution that created IHRD rejects denial of the Holocaust and condemns discrimination and violence based on religion or ethnicity.”
According to the proclamation, Canada offers a refuge and new hope to immigrants, refugees, and survivors, some of whom have escaped more recent genocides – and it is a place where people learn from each other and share cultures.
The proclamation, signed by Mayor Patrick Johnstone, said the city will join with the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre and the Jewish community on an annual day of commemoration to honour the victims of the Nazi era.
“I want to thank you for coming in and giving us your presentation, for talking about your history,” Johnstone told Schwartz. “I also want to thank the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, who continue to do incredible work. … The education work they do in British Columbia is amazing. The goal is to make sure that we are still creating witnesses every day of what happened, the horrors of the Holocaust.”
As the people who survived the Holocaust die, Johnstone said it’s important to create new witnesses, so people are reminded of the six million Jews who were killed and the millions of people, including Jews, Roma people, gay men, and people with disabilities, who were victims of the Holocaust. He said the Nazis eliminated whoever they determined “were other.”
“It’s important that we continue to remind folks about it so that we don’t ever lose the history,” he said.
While one can say, “never again”, Johnstone said examples of genocide have taken place since the Holocaust, including Cambodia and Rwanda. He said it begins with “othering” people.
“It can’t happen until people who are given the power of government and the power of media in order to create othering and dehumanize entire groups of people. That’s the reminder that the Holocaust has to give us,” he said. “I’m glad that the Holocaust Information Centre is still doing that work. I encourage people to check them out and see the work that they are doing and remember that this is as important as ever that they are doing this work, and we remember.”
In addition to expressing thanks for the proclamation, Schwartz asked that the city consider making it a standing proclamation, so the Jewish community does not have to request the proclamation each year. He also asked if New Westminster City Hall or Anvil Centre could be lit up with yellow lights on Jan. 27.
Coun. Ruby Campbell thanked Schwartz for delegating and for sharing his family’s story, saying it’s something that needs to be shared. She expressed support for having the day being a standing day that the City of New Westminster acknowledges each year.
Johnstone said there currently isn’t a process for proclamations to be carried into future years, but that’s something city staff are currently discussing. He noted the concern is finding a way to ensure the city does not “drop the ball each year” with ongoing proclamations.
According to Johnstone, the city has undertaken repairs of the lights at city hall. If those repairs are completed by the end of the month, he said New Westminster City Hall will be lit up in yellow – the colour signifying International Holocaust Remembrance Day – on Jan. 27.
