The Miller Center for Community Protection & Resilience Recognizes the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

January 27, 2020 – Today, on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the world is reminded of the unspeakable horrors endured during the Holocaust and our duty to honor, through remembrance, the human capacity to rebuild. In remembrance of this anniversary, the Miller Center for Community Protection & Resilience (CPR) at Rutgers University reaffirms its mission to assist vulnerable communities, particularly communities of faith.

“As much as we commemorate the liberation of the death camp at Auschwitz, we should not forget that the liberation of the camps came too late for millions of victims. This anniversary should inspire the world to vigilance in responding to reports of ethnic cleansing and genocide. Remembering the horrors of Auschwitz is the essential first step to preventing their recurrence,” said John J. Farmer, Jr., director of CPR.

The Center’s work aims to address religious-based hate-motivated crimes and enhance the safety of vulnerable communities by improving their relationships with law enforcement, with government agencies, and with other communities.

CPR’s direct assistance to vulnerable communities has spanned from Paris, London, Brussels, Copenhagen, Prague, Budapest, Malmo, Stockholm, and parts of the United States. In Whitefish, Montana, CPR helped local community leaders and law enforcement officials respond to anti-Semitic threats.

Last spring, CPR partnered with the International March of the Living to create a Dean’s Program to educate deans of graduate and law schools on Holocaust and genocide prevention. The program informed deans of the realities of the Holocaust and the growing threat posed by hatred and intolerance. The program included a trip to Poland, where the deans participated in the annual March of the Living.

This year, CPR is introducing a new program for chiefs of police. Recognizing that law enforcement is acting on the forefront in the escalating global fight on hate-crimes and intolerance, CPR has created a special program for policing leaders that will focus on creating an infrastructure for police to be better informed about the threat of hate-crimes-and how to combat it. The program will be in partnership with the International March of the Living. The program designed for chiefs of police would not be possible without the support of Ronald Lauder. The Miller Center is grateful to Mr. Lauder for his support of the program and his commitment to combating anti-Semitism.

The Miller Center is affiliated with the Eagleton Institute of Politics and Rutgers Law School. Visit the Miller Center’s website to learn more and stay informed.