| April 11, 2022 [St. Petersburg, FL] – In response to the reports of mass graves and acts of brutality against Ukrainian citizens by Russian armed forces, 17 Holocaust Museums from 4 countries have raised their voices together to speak out. In a joint statement, the organizations condemn these acts as war crimes and support the International Criminal Court as it investigates charges of genocide by the Russian military against the Ukrainian people. This statement represents a global network of institutions which educate visitors about previous atrocities in Europe and beyond to work toward a future where “never again” is a reality for everyone. The statement reads: Museums are bearers of history. By housing the artifacts and documents of the past, we ensure that the truth, both noble and horrific, of what humanity has done remains shared and accessible. We at Holocaust museums around the world have a particular mission. The stories we tell are ones of destruction and pain, and of the nobility of upstanders who risked their lives to do what was right and help others. We not only aim to educate, to honor our Survivors’ wishes that their stories are not forgotten, but to make a better future where the stories we tell are no longer repeated. So it is with sorrow that we see yet another atrocity in Ukraine, 80 years after the ‘Holocaust by Bullets’ in which Jewish men, women, and children were shot and buried in shallow graves. We are angered by today’s stories of children with their hands zip tied and buried in shallow graves. We are angered by the horrific reports of rape and wanton destruction of lives by the Russian army. These are war crimes, and if we, as the bearers of history, do not speak out, then we have failed in our mission. We call upon our governments around the world to do more to stop these atrocities and assist those who have been brutalized. We support the International Criminal Court’s investigation of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Signatories to the statement: Susan Abrams • Illinois Holocaust MuseumDaniel Amar • Montreal Holocaust MuseumErin Blankenship • The Florida Holocaust MuseumMarc Cave • The National Holocaust Centre and Museum, UKTroy Fears • CANDLES Holocaust MuseumMary Pat Higgins • Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights MuseumBeth Kean • Holocaust Museum LAJack Kliger • Museum of Jewish HeritageMary Kluk • Durban Holocaust & Genocide CentreNina Krieger • Vancouver Holocaust Education CentreEli Mayerfeld • The Zekelman Holocaust CenterTali Nates • Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide CentreDee Simon • Holocaust Center for HumanityJames Smith • Aegis TrustHelen Turner • St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust MuseumSarah L. Weiss • Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity CenterKelly Zúñiga • Holocaust Museum Houston The statement was shared as a full-page ad in The New York Times on Sunday, April 10. |
| About The Florida Holocaust MuseumOne of the largest Holocaust Museums in the country, and one of three nationally accredited Holocaust museums, The Florida Holocaust Museum honors the memory of millions of men, women, and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust. The FHM is dedicated to teaching members of all races and cultures the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides. For additional information, please visit www.TheFHM.org |