04-28-2025

Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust, 2025

ProclamationView the Original .pdf
View the Original .pdf

The 1-Minute Brief

What: A presidential proclamation designating April 20 through April 27, 2025, as the "Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust." The proclamation honors the six million Jews and other victims of the Nazi regime, connects the Holocaust to the modern State of Israel, and addresses the recent rise of antisemitism in the United States. It also announces the administration's commitment to combating antisemitism, particularly on college campuses.

Money: This proclamation is ceremonial and does not directly appropriate any federal funds.

Your Impact: For most Americans, the direct impact is a national call to remember the Holocaust through study and commemoration. For Jewish Americans, and particularly students, it signals a reinforced federal effort to combat antisemitism.

Status: This is a presidential proclamation, signed by the President on April 23, 2025, and is considered official executive branch action.

What's Actually in the Bill

This presidential proclamation serves two main functions: first, to formally designate a week for Holocaust remembrance, and second, to state the administration's policy on combating contemporary antisemitism. It links the memory of the Holocaust with current events, specifically citing the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a subsequent rise in antisemitism in the U.S.

Core Provisions:

  • Designates the week of April 20 through April 27, 2025, as the "Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust."
  • Calls on the American people to observe this week with "appropriate study, prayers, and commemoration."
  • Vows to preserve the stories of Holocaust survivors.
  • States the administration is using all available legal tools to combat antisemitism on college campuses, including the removal of resident aliens who violate U.S. laws.
  • Commits to investigating and punishing antisemitic discrimination in "leftist, anti-American colleges and universities."

Stated Purpose (from the Sponsors):

The proclamation's stated purpose is to honor the victims of the Holocaust and ensure its atrocities are never forgotten.

  1. To honor the memory of the six million Jews and other victims slaughtered by the Nazi regime.
  2. To reflect on the "dark affront to human dignity posed by Nazis."
  3. To combat the "explosion of anti-Semitic harassment" in the U.S. following the October 7, 2023, attacks.
  4. To declare that the vow of "never again means now."

Key Facts:

Affected Sectors: Education, particularly higher education, and law enforcement.
Timeline: The Days of Remembrance are designated for April 20-27, 2025. The policies to combat antisemitism are presented as ongoing.
Scope: This is a national proclamation directed at the people of the United States.

The Backstory: How We Got Here

Timeline of Events:

Post-War Era & The Push for Remembrance (1945-1980):

Following World War II, the world grappled with the scale of the Holocaust. In the United States, a formal, national commemoration took shape over several decades. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter established the President's Commission on the Holocaust. This led to a 1979 congressional resolution designating April 28 and 29 as "Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust," chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp by American troops in 1945. In 1980, Congress passed a law creating the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, which was charged with ensuring that the Days of Remembrance would be observed annually in perpetuity.

A Rise in Antisemitism & The Link to Current Events (2023-Present):

In recent years, and particularly since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the U.S. has experienced a significant increase in antisemitic incidents. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recorded a 360% increase in antisemitic incidents in the three months following the attack compared to the previous year. Hillel International reported that antisemitic incidents on college campuses reached their highest-ever level during the 2024-2025 school year. This surge has included physical threats, harassment, and vandalism. Surveys indicate that a significant portion of American Jews have personally experienced antisemitism since October 7.

Why Now? The Political Calculus:

  • The proclamation was issued in April 2025, aligning with the established annual commemoration period for the Days of Remembrance.
  • It directly addresses the "worst outbreak of anti-Semitism on American soil in generations," linking the historical event of the Holocaust to contemporary political and social issues.
  • The text reflects the administration's focus on combating antisemitism on college campuses, a theme that has been central to its recent executive actions. On January 29, 2025, the President signed an executive order to marshal federal resources to fight antisemitism in higher education.
  • The proclamation serves to reaffirm the administration's stance on this issue and its commitment to specific enforcement actions mentioned, such as investigating universities and removing non-citizens who violate laws.

Your Real-World Impact

The Direct Answer: This proclamation directly affects Jewish Americans by acknowledging and promising action against a rise in antisemitism, and it involves academic institutions through federal oversight. For the general public, it is a call for national reflection.

What Could Change for You:

Potential Benefits:

  • For Jewish Students: May lead to a safer environment on college campuses due to increased federal investigation of antisemitic incidents and discrimination.
  • For the Jewish Community: Provides a high-level acknowledgment of the rise in antisemitism and a stated commitment from the government to combat it.
  • For the General Public: Encourages education and remembrance of the Holocaust, aiming to prevent future atrocities.

Possible Disruptions or Costs:

Short-term ([1-2 Years]):

  • For University Administrators: May face increased federal scrutiny, reporting requirements, and investigations related to civil rights complaints and campus climate.
  • For Foreign Students/Staff: Those accused of antisemitic harassment could face investigation and potential removal from the U.S.

Long-term:

  • For Academic Institutions: Could lead to changes in policies regarding speech and conduct on campus to comply with federal pressure and avoid loss of funding. This could also raise concerns about academic freedom and free speech.

Who's Most Affected:

Primary Groups: Jewish students, faculty, and the wider Jewish community; college and university administrations.
Secondary Groups: Foreign nationals studying or working at U.S. universities; civil liberties organizations.
Regional Impact: No specific regional impact, but areas with large Jewish populations or prominent universities with active campus protests may feel the effects more acutely.

Bottom Line: The proclamation reinforces a federal effort to combat antisemitism, especially on college campuses, while calling on all Americans to commemorate the Holocaust.

Where the Parties Stand

Republican Position: "Stand with Israel, Fight Antisemitism"

Core Stance: The Republican party platform emphasizes strong support for Israel and a commitment to fighting antisemitism, often linking the two issues.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Strongly condemn antisemitism and support holding accountable those who perpetrate violence against Jewish people.
  • ✓ Support for Israel is a key foreign policy tenet. House Republicans have passed multiple resolutions and bills to this effect.
  • ✓ Advocate for revoking visas of foreign nationals who support terrorism and for deporting "pro-Hamas radicals" from college campuses.
  • ⚠️ The party has faced criticism for some members echoing what critics call antisemitic conspiracy theories, and for former President Trump dining with white supremacists and Holocaust deniers.

Legislative Strategy: Pushing for legislation like the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which codifies a specific definition of antisemitism for the Department of Education to use when investigating discrimination. They have also initiated multiple congressional investigations into antisemitism at universities.

Democratic Position: "A Whole-of-Society Effort Against Hate"

Core Stance: The Democratic party platform details a comprehensive strategy to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate, viewing it as a domestic priority.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Released the first-ever National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, involving coordinated actions across government agencies.
  • ✓ Clarified that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits certain forms of antisemitic and Islamophobic discrimination in federally funded programs.
  • ✓ Appointed a Special Envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism globally.
  • ⚠️ The party faces internal divisions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with a vocal progressive wing pushing for a more critical stance toward Israel, which some critics argue can blur into antisemitism.

Legislative Strategy: Focuses on implementing the national strategy, providing funding for the security of at-risk institutions like synagogues and mosques, and using existing civil rights law to prosecute discrimination.

Constitutional Check

The Verdict: ✓ Constitutional

Basis of Authority:

Presidential proclamations are a type of presidential directive that, while not explicitly defined in the Constitution, are considered an implied power under Article II. They have been used by every president since George Washington.

Relevant Portion of the Constitution: Article II of the U.S. Constitution grants the President "executive Power."

Constitutional Implications:

[Presidential Authority]: Proclamations are generally considered to have less authority than executive orders. Ceremonial proclamations, like designating a day of remembrance, are a long-standing and accepted use of presidential authority. For a proclamation to have the force of law, it must be based on powers granted to the President by the Constitution or by a statute passed by Congress.
[Precedent]: The annual proclamation for the Days of Remembrance is a decades-long precedent, stemming from a 1980 act of Congress that mandated its perpetual observance.
[Federalism]: This proclamation does not overstep into powers reserved for the states. It is a national declaration and a statement of federal enforcement priorities under existing civil rights law.

Potential Legal Challenges:

The ceremonial aspects of the proclamation are unlikely to face legal challenges. However, the policy directives mentioned within it, which are based on a separate Executive Order from January 2025, have faced pushback. Civil liberties and academic freedom groups have argued that these actions could chill protected speech on campuses. Lawsuits have been filed challenging the administration's attempts to strip funding from universities, arguing they violate due process and constitute viewpoint discrimination.

Your Action Options

TO SUPPORT THIS BILL

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I support the President's efforts to combat antisemitism as outlined in the recent proclamation. I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to support robust funding and policies to protect Jewish students."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Detailed Email: Contact members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce or the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions to express your support for vigorous oversight of antisemitism on campus.
  • Join an Organization: Groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and the Republican Jewish Coalition often advocate for these policies.

TO OPPOSE THIS BILL

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I am concerned that the administration's approach to combating antisemitism, mentioned in the recent proclamation, could infringe on free speech rights on college campuses. I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to ensure any actions protect First Amendment rights."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Letter to the Editor: Submit a letter to your local newspaper expressing concerns about academic freedom and the potential for federal overreach in university affairs.
  • Join an Organization: Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) work to protect free speech on campus and may oppose the administration's methods. Jewish organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace may oppose the proclamation's framing of the issue.