Bolinsky Participates in Connecticut’s 39th Holocaust Commemoration

Photo: State Rep. Mitch Bolinsky (right) observes the Holocaust Commemoration along with fellow lawmakers, liberators, and survivors.

Hartford – State Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) participated in Connecticut’s 39th annual Holocaust Commemoration held at the State Capitol on Friday, April 28, 2017. The ceremony is held during Holocaust Remembrance Week and serves as a somber reminder of the atrocities and genocide in Eastern Europe prior to and during World War II, that resulted in the death of 6-million Jews, including 1-million children and the deaths of another 6-million non-Jews.

The keynote speaker at the commemoration was Leah Linton, a holocaust witness and survivor from Vienna, Austria. Ms. Linton provided a detailed account of Nazi occupation and the horrific crimes they committed against the Jewish people. She concluded her comments by explaining she felt that she survived the holocaust so that she could speak out against it.

“As a Jewish-American and grandson from a family of refugees who survived by escaping prejudice, oppression and seizure of property, I solemnly participate in this or other commemorations every year. We must never stand by and allow such atrocities to result in the systemic murder of innocent men, women and children. Yet, somehow it does. To dehumanize and persecute people for simply ‘being’ different, whether by race, religion or orientation is unthinkable,” said Rep. Bolinsky.

“On a local and national level, we seem to be less tolerant of those around us. This concerns me, too. Vilifying others simply because their beliefs do not align with our own and not having the kindness to respect that we’re not all the same seems to be leading some of us to such intolerance, that it borders on hatred. There should be no place in any kind-person’s heart for this. I think we’d all benefit from giving one another a larger measure of interpersonal respect, understanding and tolerance.”

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