Remembering the 80th Anniversary of Auschwitz’s Liberation: A Lesson for Today
Eighty years ago, on January 27, 1945, the world witnessed the liberation of one of history’s darkest sites: the Auschwitz concentration camp. When the gates were opened, the unimaginable horrors that had been inflicted there—and in so many other camps—could no longer be denied. It is vital that we remember not only what happened at Auschwitz, but also what steps allowed such atrocities to occur. This is more than a historical reflection; it’s a warning, a clarion call to stay vigilant in protecting all marginalized communities.
A Brief History of Auschwitz
Auschwitz was established by the Nazi regime in occupied Poland and became a central component of Hitler’s “Final Solution.” It was a carefully orchestrated plan to exterminate entire groups of people deemed “undesirable.” While we rightly remember that millions of Jewish people were sent there, we must also acknowledge the thousands of others who were persecuted and killed: Romani people, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, political prisoners, and more. Auschwitz was both a labor camp and an extermination camp, a factory of death built from hatred, complacency, and indifference.
How Did Society Let This Happen?
Holocaust history is rooted in centuries of antisemitism, homophobia, ableism, and other prejudices. However, the Nazi regime managed to harness and weaponize this bigotry to an unimaginable extent. They started with propaganda—spreading fear, scapegoating, and divisive rhetoric that blamed minorities for economic and social woes. Laws were then passed to systematically strip these communities of their rights. Neighbors turned on neighbors because it was sanctioned by the state to do so. The result was systematic isolation, dehumanization, and annihilation.
This progression wasn’t a sudden switch—it was a slow burn of hateful ideologies that, left unchecked, grew to monstrous proportions. Step by step, policy by policy, the Nazis created a world where unspeakable atrocities became normalized. We must never forget that it takes more than one person or one group to allow such horror; it takes a societal breakdown in empathy, reinforced by bigotry and complicity.
Remembering the Other Victims
While the Jewish community bore the brunt of the Nazis’ extermination efforts, we must illuminate the stories of other marginalized groups, too. LGBTQ+ prisoners were forced to wear the pink triangle and were subjected to medical experiments, torture, and execution. People with disabilities were deemed “life unworthy of life” and exterminated under the T4 program. Romani communities were almost entirely obliterated in what they refer to as the Porajmos. Political dissidents who dared to oppose the regime were also imprisoned, tortured, and killed.
To this day, many of these stories remain lesser-known. This ignorance undermines our collective ability to stand against marginalization in its modern forms. Auschwitz is a haunting reminder that hatred rarely confines itself to just one group.
A Warning for the Present
Eighty years later, we find ourselves once again facing divisive rhetoric and legislative attacks that seek to erase or marginalize entire communities. The rise in antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+, ableist, and other hateful sentiments in our nation is a glaring signal that history can repeat itself if we allow complacency to guide us. Hate crimes are increasing. Books are being banned. The voices of the most vulnerable are being silenced.
We need to recognize the parallels:
- Propaganda and Misinformation: Social media and certain news outlets can spread dangerous conspiracy theories and hateful ideologies in the blink of an eye.
- Institutionalized Prejudice: From discriminatory laws to systemic biases, we see echoes of how oppression can become legally sanctioned.
- Complacency and Silence: Too often, good people choose silence over confrontation, inadvertently giving hate fertile ground to grow.
Our Responsibility: “Never Again”
Memory alone is not enough; it must fuel our moral obligation to act. The lesson of Auschwitz is that hatred thrives in indifference. We must challenge bigotry wherever it appears. We have a duty to speak out in our classrooms, at our workplaces, and in our communities—especially when we see attempts to legislate LGBTQ+ identities out of existence or deny people with disabilities the support they need. History proves that the devaluation of one group’s humanity endangers us all.
For those of us in education and those advocating for Safe Schools, we owe it to our students and communities to ensure that truth is taught, inclusivity is championed, and compassion is modeled. When we focus on empathy, respect, and critical thinking, we create an environment where hate struggles to find a foothold.
Standing Together Against Hate
Remembering the liberation of Auschwitz is more than a somber historical anniversary; it is a call to unite. If history has taught us anything, it’s that marginalized communities are stronger when they stand together. We protect each other by working in solidarity—by insisting that no one is left out or forgotten.
By acknowledging the full scope of who was targeted at Auschwitz—Jews, LGBTQ+ people, Romani, disabled individuals, political dissidents—we honor their memory and reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding every single life. We must never allow the pages of history to be rewritten to omit those who were persecuted, nor can we stand by while similar currents of hate flow through our society today.
A Warning for the Future
The 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation is a moment of reflection, grief, and education. It’s a reminder that vigilance is essential—because history can repeat itself if we fail to learn its lessons. Let us remember how it began, who was targeted, and why it matters today. Our promise—“Never Again”—is not just a catchphrase. It’s a pledge to remain steadfast in protecting one another, to speak out against injustice, and to ensure that, through our collective resilience and solidarity, we pave the way for a world where hatred finds no refuge.
We are stronger together, and when we resist attempts to erase our stories from the books of history, we deny hatred the chance to take root again. Let this anniversary be our prompt to stand guard against prejudice in all its forms, to educate the next generation, and to live, every day, with compassion and courage.
By: Rev. Dr. Harold Marrero
Chief Operating Officer
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