In total 485 people visited the ‘Never Again’ lessons from the Holocaust educational exhibition at Oxford Town Hall over 6 days. 149 visiting on Holocaust Memorial Day alone. The exhibition showed the developments that took place in German society that lead to the systematic antisemitism and marginalisation that lead to the extermination of 6 million Jews. Explanation was also given of the Nazi persecution of other groups deemed to be racially inferior or ‘enemies of the state’ which lead to the the murder of 7 million disabled, Roma, trade unionists and political opponents, LGBT, and religious minorities.
The exhibition also highlighted parallels between the 1930’s and today, and how the modern heirs of the Nazis are still organising to take power and are still using racism to do so.
A section was also devoted to resistance to the Nazi regime and the need to maintain active opposition to fascism and racism today.
The event was opened by Jean Fooks, Lord Mayor of Oxford and throughout the week there were guest speakers from LGBTQ, Women, and Roma communities along with Trade Unionists talking about the Nazi treatment of those groups.
The final day coincided with Holocaust Memorial Day and a 50 strong meeting was addressed by Alison Ryde, President of Oxford Jewish Congregation, Anneliese Dodds MP Oxford East, and a Stand Up To Racism spokesperson.
Oxford Stand Up To racism would like to take this opportunity to thank Bob Price, Oxford City Council for help with facilitating this event, local Trade Unions who helped fund this event, not forgetting the Oxford Stand Up To Racism activists who helped research and put material together and run the event across the week.