'Be the light in the darkness' - Norfolk marks Holocaust Memorial Day
The Lord Mayor says we all need to remember the atrocities to stop it from happening again
'Be the light in the darkness' - that's the message for this year's Holocaust Rememberance Day.
Virtual services are being held across Norfolk with services in Norwich and King's Lynn being shown online.
The Norfolk-wide event at 2pm will feature a number of presentations and case studies, including powerful testimonies from survivors of religious genocide.
This year's national theme encourages us to reflect on how we can play our part in combatting the prejudice and hate that may surround us.
Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Vaughan Thomas says we all need to remember to do what we can to stop people being anti-Semitic or racist.
He said:
"It's not just something that is just historical. It's relevant today and we need reminding that these things do happen. It's not just what happened in the Second World War, it's the genocides in Rwanda, Darfur and Cambodia too.
"It's really important that we know what's going on and that the slightest inklings of anything like this, that we put a stop to it.
"If anyone makes off the cuff remarks about anti-Semitism or racism, we should nip it in the bud.
"We are one community and we're all together.
"Everyone has their own religious freedoms and we need to make sure we protect those so we are all standing together."
You can view this event on YouTube here at 2pm.
While in West Norfolk and King's Lynn, the Borough Council is replacing it's annual gathering at the Town Hall with an online alternative.
The service will include a reading by the Borough Mayor, Geoff Hipperson, West Norfolk Borough Council leader Brian Long, and members of various communities in West Norfolk.
Mayor of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Cllr Geoff Hipperson, said:
"In the midst of this terrible virus there is a huge core of people working and volunteering with kindness, care and generosity that far exceeds examples of selfishness.
"Similar individuals, groups and organisations are represented to remember the horrible cases of cruelty and genocide in the past and promote the rejection of prejudice and racism at present, and in the future."
A spokesman for the local Jewish community said:
"We were determined that there should be a service to mark this important date and hope that by bringing it online we can reach as many people as possible.
"The anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau was chosen as the day for the nation to reflect on man's inhumanity to man and offers the hope that lessons can be learned for the future."
A wreath will also be laid at the tree in King's Lynn's Tower Gardens which was planted for the first Holocaust Memorial Day service 20 years ago.