Commemorating Courage and Commitment: President Biden's Stance Against Antisemitism and For Holocaust Remembrance
In a heartfelt speech delivered in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol, President Biden commemorated the Holocaust Days of Remembrance, emphasizing the atrocities of the Holocaust and condemning the recent surge in antisemitism, including the horrific events of October 7th, 2023, described as the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.
The Commemoration
The President began by thanking key figures and institutions for their dedication to Holocaust remembrance, including Stu Eizenstat of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. He highlighted the presence of Holocaust survivors at the event, offering them a message of love and respect inherited from his mother.
“During these sacred Days of Remembrance, we grieve. We give voice to the 6 million Jews who were systematically targeted and murdered by the Nazis…And we recommit to heading and heeding the lessons that [of] one of the darkest chapters in human history, to revitalize and realize the responsibility of ’never again.'”
Educating Future Generations
The President stressed the importance of “never forget” as a pledge to continually educate current and future generations about the Holocaust’s horrors to prevent its recurrence. He cited his personal efforts to educate his grandchildren about the Holocaust’s atrocities by visiting significant sites such as Yad Vashem and Dachau.
Condemning Recent Antisemitism
President Biden spoke passionately about the rise in antisemitic attacks, including an unprecedented assault on Jewish people on October 7, 2023, by the terrorist group Hamas. This day marked an extreme outbreak of violence against Jewish individuals, drawing a severe comparison to the Holocaust’s brutality.
“On October 7th in 2023…over 1,200 innocent people — babies, parents, grandparents — slaughtered…Thousands more carrying wounds, bullets, and shrapnel from the memory of that terrible day they endured.”
A Unified Stand Against Hatred
The President called for action against the perpetuation of hate, emphasizing that uprooting antisemitism and all forms of hate requires collective effort. He underscored this with references to his administration’s measures to combat antisemitism, including the nation’s first National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.
“My administration is working around the clock to free remaining hostages…and we will not rest until we bring them all home.”
Closing Remarks
To conclude, President Biden invoked the stories of resilience and courage in the face of persecution, drawing parallels between the spirit of the Jewish people and the foundational values of America. He celebrated Jewish American heritage and called upon all Americans to be guardians of civilization against the erosion of hate.
“Great Jewish American named Tom Lantos used the phrase, ‘The veneer of civilization is paper thin. We are its guardians, and we can never rest.’”
The President’s speech underscored a powerful message of remembrance, resilience, and unity against the backdrop of remembering the horrors of the Holocaust and facing the surge of modern antisemitism.
