HOUSE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JANUARY 27TH OF 2026, AS "INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY" AND COMMEMORATING THE 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ

Plain-English Summary

This is a House Resolution from the Rhode Island state legislature officially recognizing January 27th, 2026, as "International Holocaust Remembrance Day" in Rhode Island. The resolution also marks the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp in occupied Poland that was freed by Allied forces on January 27th, 1945. Resolutions like this are formal expressions of the legislature's recognition and values, rather than laws that create new rules or requirements.

The resolution serves as a symbolic and commemorative act, honoring the memory of the approximately six million Jewish people and millions of others who were murdered during the Holocaust. It aligns Rhode Island with an international observance established by the United Nations in 2005, which designated January 27th as a day of remembrance each year. The Rhode Island House of Representatives has already passed this resolution.

This resolution does not create any new laws, assign funding, or place requirements on any individuals, businesses, or government agencies. It affects all Rhode Islanders in a symbolic sense by officially acknowledging the significance of this date and encouraging remembrance and reflection on one of history's most devastating atrocities. Such resolutions are common legislative tools used to honor important historical events, people, or causes.