Laster: There must be 'intolerance for injustices'

COEUR d’ALENE — International Holocaust Remembrance Day was not forgotten in North Idaho on Wednesday.

 “It is important to understand where we have been and where we still need to provide education,” said Jeanette Laster, executive director of the Human Rights Education Institute in Coeur d’Alene. “With all that our nation has experienced and the rise of extremism, we must counter each and every occurrence with solid intolerance for injustices and intimidation, backed by community education and compassion.”

The day of commemoration is to honor the estimated six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust by the German Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945 and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.

Ceremonies worldwide were held Wednesday.

“We must never forget the truth of what happened across Europe or brush aside the horrors inflicted on our fellow humans because of the doctrines of hatred and division,” said President Joe Biden.

The HREI joined with several organizations to promote online presentations from Monday to Friday during “Holocaust Education Week: Understanding the Radicalization of Youth.”

Today’s webinar is with Christian Piccolini, former neo-Nazi who left white supremacist groups to found the Free Radicals Project, which works to prevent extremism and helping people disengage from hate movements and other violent ideologies. Friday’s program is on solutions to radicalization in the Muslim community.

“We can connect people from all over the world,” Laster said.

It is also highlighting at the 15th annual Eva Lassman Memorial Writing Contest, “When Character Matters: Preventing Genocide.”

Laster said it is important to use history as a reminder to “never repeat ourselves.”

“We still are experiencing attacks on social justice,” she said.

Dr. Norman Leffler of Coeur d’Alene agreed prejudice remains when it comes to race and religion. Hatred still exists all over the world, he said, and much work remains to be done to eliminate it.

“You don’t hear that much about the antisemitism going on,” he said.

But he believes there has been progress in North Idaho. He said more Jewish people are moving to the area and he appreciates the efforts by the HREI to create equality for all.

Laster said it has been a rough year nationally with the rise of extremist groups and a “loud minority that intimates others into silence or fear.”

That can’t continue, she said. People must stand together “and call out things for what they are.”

“We have been very tolerant to allow some social injustices,” Laster said. “We can no longer do that.”