School events honour Holocaust victims

Over 220 people attended the East Ren event, held at St Ninian’s High school. Guests included the lord lieutenant of Renfrewshire Guy Clark and his wife, Eastwood MSP Ken Macintosh, rabbi Moshe Rubin, Inverclyde provost Robert Moran and Renfrewshire provost Anne Hall, as well as Paul Morron, president of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council.

The ceremony featured a performance by ERC schools senior string orchestra, a short film, lighting of a memorial candle and poetry readings.

The main focus of the evening was on senior pupils from the area’s seven high schools, each giving accounts of their trip to the Auschwitz in October.

Provost Alastair Carmichael said: “On Holocaust Memorial Day we share the memory of the millions who have been lost in the atrocities of the past, in order to challenge hatred and persecution today. We all have a responsibility to make sure that we don’t see history repeat itself.”

In Glasgow, school groups from across the city gathered at city chambers for a commemorative event.

Bellahouston Academy pupils spoke about their trip to the Nazi concentration camp, while other schools provided music.

Guests included Arn Chorn Pond — a survivor of genocide in Cambodia — and Dr Alfred Munzer, whose family was split up as a result of Nazi invasion.

Southside councillor Soryia Siddique, chair of sense over sectarianism, told The Extra that it was an “important event, ensuring our young people are given the opportunity to learn about the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.”