Elijah Cummings: “I rise today to bear witness to the millions who perished in the Holocaust. From 1933 to 1945, a dark cloud descended on…”

“I rise today to bear witness to the millions who perished in the Holocaust. From 1933 to 1945, a dark cloud descended on Europe and death rolled like thunder across the Continent. Six million Jews died unspeakable deaths at the hands of the Nazis. Thousands of homosexuals, political dissidents, blacks and gypsies were corralled into concentration camps, tortured, and killed. Righteous Germans gave their lives to protect their neighbors, and millions of civilians succumbed as bombs fell like rain during air raids. Mr. Speaker, we hear the screech of sirens piercing the night, and we say ``Never Again.'' We see shattered glass littering the streets and we say ``Never Again.'' We feel bodies pressed against each other in cattle cars--no room to move, no air to breathe--and we say ``Never Again.'' We hear the hiss of gas pouring from shower spigots and see fingernails scratching at concrete walls, and we say ``Never Again.'' We remember the curl of smoke reaching toward a white winter sky and ashes drifting down amidst snowflakes. Never Again. Mr. Speaker, in the 60 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, Holocaust survivors across the world have borne witness to the atrocities of the Shoah. They have taught us about the dangers of prejudice and ignorance. They have shown us by their shining example the power of strength, education and activism.…”