We at TOLI, like so many others, are deeply disturbed over the senseless killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and the far too many other Black people who have died because of systemic racism. It is unacceptable that the scourge of racism, inequality before the law and social injustice are still prevalent in American society. 

We support the peaceful protests that have taken place around the US and the world  and hope they will provide a catalyst for long overdue change.

TOLI’s mission – providing professional development seminars for educators to teach the Holocaust and apply its lessons to counter hate and bigotry – has never been more relevant and important. We have witnessed a dangerous rise in racism, white extremism and anti-Semitism in recent years. 

We are grateful to the many teachers who have participated in TOLI seminars and who are on the front lines of fighting ignorance. If the events of the past weeks have taught us anything, it is that we can never be complacent in the face of hatred, on the margins or in the mainstream. We pledge to redouble our efforts to stop bias, prejudice and discrimination and preserve the very foundations of democracy which we so cherish.

David Field, Chairman

Mark Berez, President

The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights