MICHIGAN SENATE
Senate Resolution No. 116
Offered by Senators Moss, Damoose, Geiss, Polehanki, Theis and Wojno
A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE MAY 5-6, 2024, AS HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
WHEREAS, The horrors of the Holocaust should never be forgotten. The Holocaust was the
state-sponsored systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jewry by Nazi Germany
and its collaborators from 1933-1945; and
WHEREAS, The Holocaust resulted in the extermination of six million Jews and their
potential decedents. The world’s Jewish population was reduced by one-third; and
WHEREAS, Poland, home to the largest Jewish community before World War II, lost 90 percent
of its Jewish population. Greece, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Lithuania, Bohemia, the Netherlands,
Slovakia, and Latvia each lost more than 70 percent of their Jewish population; and
WHEREAS, Millions more suffered grievous oppression and death under Nazi tyranny based
on their religion, including Catholic priests, Christian pastors, and Jehovah’s Witnesses; their
national origin, including Poles, Soviets, Ukrainians and Sorbs; their ethnicity and culture,
including the Romani people; their political beliefs, including courageous resisters and
government dissidents; their physical appearance, including those with disabilities; and their
sexual orientation and gender identity; and
WHEREAS, The same conspiracies, hatred, and acts of cruelty against Jews still persist
today. On October 7, 2023, 1,200 Jews and others in Israel were slaughtered and hundreds
more were taken hostage, including survivors of the Holocaust. This was the single most violent
event targeting Jews since 1945 and unleashed public displays of Jewish hatred not seen in
generations; and
WHEREAS, In 2023, The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that antisemitic incidents
increased 140 percent, including an increase in assaults by 45 percent, harassment by
184 percent, and acts of vandalism by 69 percent. This data amounts to the highest level of
antisemitism in the 45 years these incidents have been tracked, as well as a significant increase
over 2022 which set the previous record for antisemitic incidents; and
WHEREAS, The history of the Holocaust must instruct the moral and ethical responsibilities of
individuals, societies, and government when confronting antisemitism. It serves as an important
reminder of what can happen when we allow bigotry, hatred, and indifference to enter and conquer
our societies in moments of peril for Jewish populations. These lessons must not expire; and
WHEREAS, The state of Michigan, through PA 170 of 2016, requires that the social studies
curriculum for grades 8 to 12 includes age- and grade-appropriate instruction about genocide so
students learn about past atrocities, factually and comprehensively. This education provides
future generations the tools to ensure the evils in history are not repeated; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the members of this legislative body recognize May 5-6,
2024, as Holocaust Remembrance Day; and be it further
RESOLVED, That in honor of the victims of the Holocaust, the survivors, and their liberators,
the citizens of Michigan should reflect upon this terrible event and strive to overcome hatred
and intolerance through both learning and remembrance.
Adopted by the Senate, May 2, 2024
Secretary of the Senate