We will be remembering the millions of Jewish and other innocent people killed during the Nazi Holocaust and the victims of every genocide since.
We will hear from several guest speakers. Including Sandra Miller, daughter of a Holocaust survivor, who will be sharing her mother's experience. Born in Poland in 1922, her mother Sabina was 17 when Germany invaded in 1939.
A survivor of The 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, Marie Chantal Uwamahoro will also be sharing her stories.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
Sharing their experiences
More than 800,000 people were killed during The 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.
Marie, the youngest of eight, was born into the only Tutsi family in her village. She faced racism and discrimination throughout her time at school and was beaten by the militia when the mass murder began.
She was saved from the conflict by Edith, her Hutu neighbour who hid her from the brutal extremists.
In total, fifty members of Marie's family were murdered during the 100-day genocide, including two of her brothers who were killed in front of their family. After the conflict, she moved to be with her sister in England and has lived in the UK since.
Poetry performances
Local students will also be performing original poetry on the day.
Saint Odong and Shahrukh Gajar from William Morris Sixth Form's poem Fragility of Freedom reads:
Freedom
A word so vast
Like endless bright skies
Full of choices, opportunities, beginnings
It belongs to me, to you, to us
Hold it close to our hearts
Hoping it will last
Freedom
A word so vast
Yet curtailed too often
Like smoke clawing through air
Choking the blue skies
Reminding us
That like us, freedom too is fragile
Remember, Freedom
A word so vast
It belongs to me, to you, to us
Protect it, share it, strengthen it
Today, tomorrow, and in the many more years to come
Everyone welcome
Our memorial morning is taking place at Riverside Studios, 11am to 1pm on Wednesday 31 January 2024. It is free to attend and open to everyone.
Hammersmith & Fulham is an inclusive and diverse borough, which has many communities from all different backgrounds, and everyone is welcome here," said Cllr Patricia Quigley, Mayor of H&F.
"Hatred and persecution should not be tolerated in any form. The survivor stories we will hear on Holocaust Memorial Day can play a vital role in reminding everyone why it is necessary to call out all forms of discrimination and bullying when we see it. This in the end will help make a more tolerant and kinder society, so that everyone can live in peace and without fear."
Register for your space on our Holocaust Memorial Day Eventbrite page.
You can read more about Holocaust Memorial Day 2024 here, including the testimony of a Bosnian Muslim, a Cambodian Khmer and others who have faced persecution around the world.
