This year’s U Remembers theme, “Breaking the Silence,” aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the Holocaust and to inspire community members to combat the rise of antisemitism and white supremacy by moving from bystanders to active participants. The week’s events included virtual discussions on the causes and consequences of anti-Semitism, the impact of bystander inaction on vulnerable victims and observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Committing to never again 

Vlad Khaykin, national director of programs on antisemitism for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), began his virtual U Remembers keynote address with a moment of silence in memory of the Holocaust and all genocides past and present. His speech was the culmination of U Remembers, the University of Utah’s annual reflection on the historical effects of racial discrimination and connections between past and contemporary social issues.

Find a recording and recap of Khaykin’s speech here.

White supremacy and anti-Semitism

Persistent forms of antisemitism and nativist othering raise important questions on how white nationalism plays into white supremacist othering of minority demographics based on religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, disability and immigration status. For the U Remembers edition of Reframing the Conversation, our panel of experts highlighted correlations between racial and religious persecution and the need to unify to acknowledge, confront and dismantle White supremacy.

Find a recording, recap and resources related to this event here.