SR42: SR42 International Holocaust Remembrance Day; recognize January 27, 2025

25 LC 112 2766 Senate Resolution 42 By: Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Albers of the 56th, Brass of the 6th, Bearden of the 30th, Watson of the 1st and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing January 27, 2025, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day; and for other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, the Holocaust was the state-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation3 of European Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945, resulting4 in the murder of six million Jews as well as the oppression and deaths of millions of others,5 including Roma, people with disabilities, and Poles; and6 WHEREAS, in 1998, HB 1664 was passed by the Georgia state legislature, establishing the7 Georgia Commission on the Holocaust as a permanent state agency charged with creating8 educational programs for Georgia citizens and operating as a secular, non-partisan entity; and9 WHEREAS, the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust is tasked with preserving the10 memory of the Holocaust, promoting public understanding of its history, and reminding11 citizens to remain vigilant against hatred, racism, antisemitism, persecution, and genocide;12 and13 S. R. 42 - 1 - 25 LC 112 2766 WHEREAS, January 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Ausch witz-Birkenau, is14 observed as International Holocaust Remembrance Day to memorial ize the six million15 Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution; and16 WHEREAS, January 27, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz,17 a critical time to honor the victims, survivors, and liberators while recognizing the lessons18 of Holocaust history amidst an alarming global rise in antisemitism; and19 WHEREAS, located in German-occupied Poland, Auschwitz consisted of three camps,20 including Birkenau, a killing center where over a million victi ms were systematically21 murdered by individuals and professionals involved in its operation; and22 WHEREAS, trains carrying Jews from across Nazi-occupied and all ied Europe regularly23 arrived at Auschwitz, where its leadership and workers conducted these systematic killings24 over nearly five years; and25 WHEREAS, in mid-January 1945, as Soviet forces approached Auschwitz, SS units forcibly26 evacuated nearly 60,000 prisoners on death marches under brutal winter conditions, resulting27 in thousands of deaths from starvation, exposure, and violence; and28 WHEREAS, on January 27, 1945, the Soviet army liberated Auschwi tz, freeing the29 remaining 7,000 prisoners, many of whom were sick and dying, an d ending the camp's30 operation; and31 WHEREAS, we, the people of Georgia, join communities throughout the world in32 commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day and honor ing the victims,33 survivors, and liberators of the Holocaust.34 S. R. 42 - 2 - 25 LC 112 2766 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body35 recognize January 27, 2025, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.36 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed37 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the38 press.39 S. R. 42 - 3 -