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League and clubs commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day

27 Jan 2021
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Premier League clubs and players remember victims of genocide by supporting 'Light the Darkness' campaign

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Wednesday marked Holocaust Memorial Day and the Premier League, its clubs and players united to commemorate this year's theme, "Be the light in the darkness".

Holocaust Memorial Day remembers the six million Jewish men, women and children killed by the Nazis and their collaborators in the Holocaust between 1941 and 1945.

It also commemorates the millions murdered in subsequent genocides, such as in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

At 20:00 GMT on 27 January, iconic landmarks and billboards across the United Kingdom, including West Ham United's London Stadium, Blackpool Tower, Caerphilly Castle and the London Eye were lit up in the Holocaust Memorial Day's global colour of purple.

Organised by Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, households across the UK were also encouraged to remember victims of genocide and unite against prejudice by lighting a candle and placing it safely in windows to create a national moment called "Light the Darkness".

Fighting antisemitism

In October 2020, the Premier League adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, as part of its ongoing commitment to promote equality and diversity, and to combat discrimination of any form in football.

That commitment was carried by the clubs and players too on Holocaust Memorial Day. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson joined others to show support for "Light the Darkness" in a video.

Chelsea marked their home match with Wolverhampton Wanderers by highlighting the stories of 20 sportsmen and women, 17 of those of Jewish heritage, who were murdered by Nazis.

And as part of the partnership between the League's Education Department and the Holocaust Educational Trust, Under-14 Academy players from clubs such as Arsenal are learning about the Holocaust through the Football Remembers The Holocaust Educational Programme, a three-day course conducted online with the youngsters.

To mark Holocaust Memorial Day, the boys will learn about Julius Hirsch, the first Jewish player to represent Germany, but who was deported to and murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau.

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