IT is hard to know why Mr J Pilkington (Letters, February 7), should be so critical of the Government's decision to establish a Holocaust Memorial Day.

After all, the Nazis' attempt to eliminate the Jewish race in Europe led to approximately six million deaths and is widely recognised as one of the worst-ever examples of man's inhumanity to man.

To say that was what led to holocausts is simply not true - state-organised anti-Jewish activities started as soon as the Nazis came to power and concentration camps were functioning and murders were taking place in Germany long before the outbreak of war in 1939.

Sadly, the holocaust was a consequence of deliberate policies systematically carried out by the Nazis and was the most evil example of racism that the world has ever seen.

What's Mr Pilkington's problem with bringing it to the attention of new generations to try and ensure that it doesn't happen again?

PHIL RILEY (Secretary, Blackburn Labour Party), Pleckgate Road, Blackburn.

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