Speak Up! Stand Up! Holocaust Memorial Day
17 Jan 2019
The ‘Speak Up! Stand Up!’ Campaign aims to empower people to be an active bystander and take action against harassment, hate crime and sexual violence
This month will be marking Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) with a focus on the theme of ‘Torn from Home’. We will be remembering the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust under Nazi Persecution.
Acts of harassment and violence committed because of a person’s identity often start with negative attitudes, beliefs and stereotypes about other people. These beliefs are cultivated through exposure and repeated reinforcement by those around them and they can form prejudices.
Holocaust Memorial Day is a time when we seek to learn from the lessons of the past and recognise that genocide does not just take place on its own – it is a process which is allowed to build when discrimination, racism and hatred are not challenged or prevented.
We’re fortunate here in the UK; we are not at immediate risk of genocide. However, discrimination has not ended, nor has the use of the language of hatred and exclusion. There is still much to do to create a safer future and HMD is an opportunity to start this process.
Events coming up:
- 23 January 2019 - HOME MCR is hosting Danny Herman, a survivor from the Kitchener Refugee Camp in Kent who will give his testimony at the Manchester City Council Holocaust memorial event. Time: 10.30am-1pm, event details.
- 23 January 2019 - Speak Up! Stand Up! campaign will be celebrating the work of the University's Widening Project 'Diversity Champions', which involved delivery of workshops that culminated in a study tour to Poland, including a visit to Auschwitz. Featuring the launch of the video that came out of the trip to mark the start of the 2019 project – incorporating the Speak Up! Stand Up! active bystanders’ campaign. Time: 6-8pm Venue: Manchester Central Library.
- 27 January 2019 - First ever UK Screening of the film 'Who Will Write Our History?' Open event for all to attend however registration required beforehand. The film explores the remarkable act of resistance led by Emanuel Ringelblum that culminated in a group of historians clandestinely documenting life in the Warsaw Ghetto. Venue: Manchester Central Library. For more information please email a.rawcliffe1@manchester.gov.uk.
Don't be a bystander Speak Up! Stand Up! Call it out and report it.
Report & Support
If you or someone you know has experienced problematic behaviour you can use the University’s Report and Support Platform. This allows you to report something anonymously or report it and get support from a Harassment Support Advisor.
Find out more or contact Robina Begum, campaign coordinator at the Students' Union, on speakupstandup@manchester.ac.uk, or Cath Prescott Equality, Diversity & Inclusion cath.prescott@manchester.ac.uk
Get Involved
We want to create a culture where all members of our community are treated with respect and dignity.