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On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day — which marks the 80th anniversary of the 1945 liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau — we honor the memory of the 6 million Jews and the millions of Roma, Sinti, Slavs, disabled persons, LGBTQ+ individuals, political dissidents and others who were murdered in the Holocaust. The world lost the perspectives and contributions of millions of individuals because of hate.

The president of the United States is the elected leader of the entire U.S. and must serve all who live here — not merely one constituency. They are responsible to everyone, and we have the reciprocal responsibility of holding the president accountable for everyone’s well-being. This is a central characteristic of living in a democratic society. To evaluate a president’s ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the office, we must understand the role and responsibilities, powers and limits on power, and systems of accountability.

“We know that democracy is always an unfinished creation. Each generation must renew its foundations. Each generation must rediscover the meaning of this hallowed vision in the light of its own modern challenges.”
— President Jimmy Carter

The anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol reminds us of the importance of strengthening democracy and countering hate. Our resource series Resisting Hate in Education offers strategies for prevention, intervention and response to hate and bias. Explore recent resources on understanding and addressing antisemitism and Islamophobia in schools along with recommendations for supporting young people during tragedies and crisis events. Together, we can engage as a broader community across our differences, build networks to foster resilience and take action to resist hate.

We offer activities for children and families, our newest magazine and book reviews to help build bridges of understanding for ourselves and the children in our lives during this holiday season. Help children develop a strong sense of self and identity while recognizing and honoring diversity in the world. Because we are different, we find space for new thoughts and ideas and opportunities to appreciate diverse ways of being and living. And our commonalities, recognized in various ways, allow us to connect as families, friends and communities. 

This holiday season, share stories with children that deepen our values and celebrate our shared humanity. “Fireflies,” our newest children’s story about family, love and identity, gives children affirming messages and offers a model to adults on responding to a child questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. When 10-year-old Kaden wonders whether he’s gay, he turns to his older brother Zain, who offers the love and acceptance all caring adults should give to a child.

The Civil Rights Movement is a story of people who believed they could bring about change to ensure civil and human rights for themselves and future generations. That change did not come easily, nor did it come without disappointments and sacrifices. As we stand on the shoulders of generations who fought for the reality of our nation’s democratic ideals, we cannot afford to lose hope. We must build resiliency in ourselves and our communities, resist hate, and recommit to our values: justice, human rights for all and democratic governance.