“The theme this year is ‘the fragility of freedom’. As is always the case, it is an important – and significant – topic. It forces us to acknowledge that something many of us take for granted as fact, can actually be eroded, dismantled and banished from existence if there is intent and – perhaps more importantly – if there is insufficient opposition to allow that transformation to occur.”
Please find attached my Holocaust Memorial Day address for 2024. Delivered at Oadby and Wigston’s annual commemoration this day, Friday 26th January 2024.
“Until a person is able to express themselves legally as they so wish without fear of unjust reprisal. Until such time as a person can apply for work without suspicion that an aspect of their identity be held against them. Until anyone can walk anywhere without fear of attracting unwanted and discriminatory attention. Until any individual everywhere, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability or more, can truly be themselves. Until every place of human gathering is genuinely open to one and all. Only then – that such a time comes to be – will we truly be free.”
Julian Harrison 