Mr. Schmerelson- Remembering and Honoring the Holocaust (Res-011-22/23)

Whereas, the Holocaust was the state-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jewry by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945 – six million were murdered; Roma (Gypsies), people with disabilities, and Poles were also targeted for destruction or decimation for racial, ethnic, or national reasons; and millions more, including men identified as gay, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Soviet prisoners of war, and political dissidents, also suffered grievous oppression and death under Nazi tyranny;

Whereas, the history of the Holocaust offers an opportunity to reflect on the moral responsibilities of individuals, societies, and governments;

Whereas, Los Angeles Unified School District students should understand and remember the terrible events of the Holocaust and remain vigilant against hatred, racism, persecution, and tyranny;

Whereas, the Los Angeles Unified School District should actively rededicate ourselves to the principles of individual freedom in a just society;

Whereas, the United States Congress established Days of Remembrance as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust, and these have been set aside to remember the victims of the Holocaust as well as to reflect on the need for respect of all peoples;

Whereas, pursuant to an Act of Congress (Public Law 96-388, October 7, 1980), the United States Holocaust Memorial Council designates the Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust to be Sunday, April 16, through Sunday, April 23, 2023, including the Day of Remembrance known as Yom HaShoah, April 17, 2023- April 18, 2023 and also the declaration that January 27, 2023 shall be known as International Holocaust Remembrance Day; and

Whereas, this year marks the 78th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by Russian troops and the 78th Anniversary of the liberation of Dachau by American troops; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Governing Board of the Los Angeles Unified School District does hereby recognize the week of Sunday, April 16, through Sunday, April 23, 2023, as Days of Remembrance;

Resolved further, That the District shall hold a moment of silence on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in memory of the victims of the Holocaust and in honor of the survivors as well as the rescuers and liberators, and that relevant and appropriate instructional resources shall be made available to all P-12 educators to utilize on this day; and, be it finally

Resolved, That the Board further proclaims that we, the Los Angeles Unified School District community, should work to promote human dignity and confront hate whenever and wherever it occurs.