We are alarmed by the recent announcement by the Defense Intelligence Agency that it will pause all activities and events related to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month, Juneteenth, LGBTQ Pride Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day and other “special observances” to comply with the President’s executive order.

The nation that defeated Nazi Germany cannot now prohibit the observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Remembering those murdered by the Nazi government and their collaborators is not a political action – it is duty. The history of the Holocaust reminds us of our obligation to protect minority rights and to speak out when we see new trends of marginalization. The Holocaust did not start with gas chambers, it began with legalized discrimination.

We stand in solidarity with all those who have experienced a history of discrimination and violence. We urge you to do the same.