Eighty years ago today, on January 27, 1945, soldiers marched into Auschwitz to liberate thousands of prisoners left near death as the Nazis retreated. What they saw that day shocked the world. 

And it still shocks us today on Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025.

On this day we remember the attempted genocide of a people villainized, ostracized, and killed based on their religious beliefs. And we say ‘Never again.’

On this day we remember the government-sponsored propaganda that turned a nation against innocent men, women, and children because of their ethnicity and their religion. And we say ‘Never again.’

On this day we remember those who boldly stood up for the Jewish people and who perished in the death camps with them. 

We must not trivialize this darkest moment in modern history by irresponsibly labeling political opponents as Nazis. We must remember the real atrocities that the world witnessed that day—the dehumanization of fellow human beings. 

As we honor their memory, we also reaffirm our commitment to learn from the lessons of the past. 

In the words of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, “I belong to a generation that has learned that whatever the question, despair is not an answer; whatever the experience, indifference is not an option…Why write memories? Why share experiences? For the dead, it is too late. We do all this because it is not too late for our children, for all children. It is never too late.”

Today, we remember. For the children.

Oregon Republican Party
LaJuana Decker, Communications Chair
communications.chair@oregon.gop