News from Southampton Labour

John Denham MP signs Holocaust Memorial Day Pledge

To mark this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day, John Denham MP has signed a pledge to ’speak up and speak out’ about the language of hatred.

27th January is Holocaust Memorial Day, which is held to provide everyone with an opportunity to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Dafur.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust is asking MPs to come together and challenge the language of hatred which still exists in society.

The pledge reads:

As part of my commitment to ending the language of hatred, I will:

* challenge the language of hatred when I hear it and never use it myself;

* carefully consider how I use my voice and will tell others how I feel in a way that does not harm or offend whether I am speaking to others, online or in writing;

* give voice to the voiceless and use my words to draw attention to the experiences of others;

* work with my friends, family, colleagues and my community to create a society which is free from the dangers of persecution and hatred.

Mr Denham said: “Last year I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau with local pupils as part of a project led by the Holocaust Educational Trust. It was a chilling and moving experience for all of us and something we will never forget. As we learn from the lessons of the past, it’s important to remember the language we use so often moulds our perceptions of people and society, and that is why today I want to join others in bringing awareness to this pledge.

“We all should hope for and work towards a future without hatred, discrimination and persecution.”

Other news from Southampton Labour

• Tories break pledge to protect local frontline police - 22 February 2012
• Whitehead calls for windfall tax on Big Six energy companies - 21 February 2012
• John Denham MP to hold 'Drop the Bill' rally in Southampton - 21 February 2012