As part of Chelsea’s Say No to Antisemitism initiative, the Holocaust Educational Trust organised a visit to the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau for 150 supporters, stewards and fans from the club.
Following the visit, Karen Pollock MBE, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said:
‘We are delighted to be working with Chelsea Football Club to Say No To Antisemitism. Whether it is in the football stands or on the streets – antisemitism should never be tolerated.
‘To stamp it out, we must educate – and there is no better way to educate than seeing first-hand the site where men, women and children were murdered, simply for being Jewish. I have no doubt that for the Chelsea staff, fans and stewards, this visit to the notorious former Nazi concentration and death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, is a moving and memorable experience – seeing the pile of shoes, the human hair, the gas chambers, leaves an indelible mark. Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau shows where hatred can ultimately lead.
‘The Holocaust was the organised murder of six million Jews from across Europe; communities wiped out, families torn apart. We must never forget it and this crucial initiative led by Chelsea Football Club is a great example of how we can educate about the past to create a better future.’
The Say No to Antisemitism initiative was set up as a long-term initiative around Chelsea’s ongoing inclusion work, and is supported by the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich. Through this initiative, Chelsea are working to take a lead in raising awareness of antisemitism and its impact on the Jewish community and wider society
You can read more about the Say No to Antisemitism campaign here.