Remembrance Day, Highlights Importance of Compassion and Empathy

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. – In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, designated by the United Nations General Assembly as Jan. 27, state Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, is taking the time to shine a light on the importance of empathy, compassion, and unity within the community.

“During International Holocaust Remembrance Day and throughout the year, we must never forget the horrific atrocities of the past and ensure such events can never happen again,” said Didech. “Now more than ever, we need to look out for people in our community who may be most vulnerable to hateful violence and respond with compassion and empathy.”

In connection with International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Didech is honoring the over six million victims of the Holocaust and emphasizing the importance of empathy, compassion, and unity within the community. In addition, Didech is highlighting recent legislation aimed at addressing the rise of hate in America. This comes after recent hateful incidents at the start of this year, including gun violence in a North Texas church, as well as a knife attack inside a Rabbi’s New York home.

Last year, Didech sponsored House Bill 38, which enhanced sentencings for murders and assaults committed in places of worship. Likewise, Didech recently introduced a measure, House Bill 4011, which would help ensure students from different cultural backgrounds are eligible to receive excused absences from school are given proper accommodations for the religious holidays of Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Diwali, Vaisakhi, Onam, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashanah. Although the current law makes it clear that Illinois public schools cannot discriminate, this law would provide stronger regulations to ensure Illinois public schools accommodate students from different backgrounds.

 “We must actively work together to address the rise of hate and divisiveness across the country,” Didech said. “We must be ever-vigilant in our efforts to stop hateful rhetoric and violence, no matter how it manifests, to ensure that such atrocities never happen again.”