United States Holocaust Memorial Museum located in Washington, D.C., United States, credit: AlbertHerring via Wikipedia
A medical professionals' coalition recently withdrew their planned event at a Washington, D.C. memorial site following public disapproval. This coalition, focused on combating genocide, intended to convene at the memorial on the morning of December 28, followed by a gathering near the White House in the afternoon.
The coalition's mission, as stated on its website, is to address and halt genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, a mission they believe global governments have failed to adequately tackle. Established in 2023, this group was a response to military actions in Gaza.
On December 26, they announced on their social media that their visit to the memorial site was not intended as a protest, nor to undermine the significant role of the memorial.
This announcement, however, was swiftly criticized by a prominent American anti-discrimination organization. The memorial's response, shared on social media platforms, highlighted the memorial's role as a tribute to the victims of a historical tragedy and condemned any exploitation of this history. They emphasized that their policy against protests upholds the space's sanctity for remembrance and education.
The memorial's spokesperson, in a statement to a prominent art publication, clarified that there had been no communication with the event organizers and stressed that hosting such an event would be deeply disrespectful, especially to survivors of the tragedy.
Jean Dubreil