Monday, March 21, 2016

Edina Recognizes Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month with ‘Days of Remembrance’

Edina, Minn., March 11, 2016 – The City of Edina’s Human Rights & Relations Commission (HRRC) holds an annual human rights forum, entitled Days of Remembrance, in conjunction with the state-recognized Genocide Awareness and Prevention month each April. To mark Edina’s sixth-annual Days of Remembrance observance, the City will host “Days of Remembrance: Women in the Holocaust and Genocides” from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at Edina City Hall.

Holocaust survivor Lucy Kreisler Smith, a St. Paul artist, will speak about hiding from the Nazis as a child with her mother. Living with fear every day, Smith and her mother often had to change locations, towns and even identities with increasing danger of being exposed and sent to death at concentration camps. Smith will talk about her experiences during the Holocaust, her life as a refugee and her involvement today in community outreach and education.

In addition, World Without Genocide Executive Director Ellen Kennedy will speak about Ravensbruck, a women’s concentration camp 50 miles outside of Berlin where the Nazis perpetrated horrific violence.

Finally, World Without Genocide staff will present a short play entitled “The Line.” “The Line” is about Sophie Scholl, a brave college student in Germany who stood up against the Nazis and was guillotined by the Gestapo. Today, Scholl represents a global symbol for human rights and courage.

Following a proclamation adopted in May 2012 by the Edina City Council, the City began to recognize the National Days of Remembrance annually in memory of victims of the Holocaust and to encourage our community to reflect on the need for respect for all people. In 2013, April was designated as Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month in Minnesota by Governor Mark Dayton. Since then, Edina’s Days of Remembrance has expanded to recognize the Holocaust and other genocides that continue to impact families in our community.

In previous years, Edina has acknowledged the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, the crises in the Congo where six million people have perished since 1996, the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII and the liberation of Auschwitz. 

The Days of Remembrance Human Rights Forum is free and open to the public. Lawyers can receive two standard CLE credits ($40 fee) and educators can receive two clock hours at no cost. Advance registration is not required. 

For more information about the City of Edina’s Days of Remembrance program, contact HRRC staff liaison MJ Lamon at 952-826-0360 or MLamon@EdinaMN.gov.

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The City of Edina
4801 W. 50th St., Edina, MN 55424
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