Thanks for local memorial events (From Dorset Echo)

Thanks for local memorial events

10:00am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Your letters

Thank you for your article about local Holocaust Memorial Day events (Echo, January 28). In Dorchester, the contributions from Sunninghill Preparatory School and the excellent Harry Glanville were the framework for a meeting with the theme of ‘Speak up, speak out’.

It was an encouragement to us all to keep vigilant so that these remembered experiences do not happen in the present.

Three children from Budmouth College showed the way by speaking about their inspirational work in the school’s active mediation and anti-bullying team.

They were followed by adults who spoke out about prejudices still widespread today: against gypsies and travellers, against people whose sexual orientation does not conform to the ‘norm’, against the disabled and, still, against ethnic minorities.

A leaflet was available setting out how witnesses to instances of ‘hate’ events or crimes, whether or not they intervene on the spot, can report the event, to the police or, if preferred, to their local authority or Citizens Advice Bureau.

Thank you to all these speakers who gave a current purpose to remembering the past.

Veronica Butler, Cattistock Road, Maiden Newton