Following the first U.S. Presidential debate, Holocaust Museum LA CEO Beth Kean issued a statement denouncing extremism.

“During the first presidential debate of 2020, we witnessed President Trump refuse to directly condemn white supremacy and further, advise the ‘Proud Boys,’ a right-wing extremist group, to ‘stand back and stand by.’ Rather than condemn the group’s ideology, which often includes white supremacist, misogynistic, xenophobic, and anti-Semitic rhetoric, he provided the group a national platform of millions of viewers,” Kean stated.

“Across social media, the group is celebrating the President’s statement and labeling it a marching order,” she added. “It’s our museum’s mission to educate adults and young people of all ages about the Holocaust and share its painful lessons through first-hand, survivor testimony and a plethora of free educational programs.”

Founded in 1961, Holocaust Museum LA is the oldest museum of its kind in the United States.

“Among the lessons we teach is the power of hateful rhetoric and unchecked bigotry to fuel violence. We cannot ignore the societal parallels from the past that have resurfaced in the United States today,” Kean stated. “Fighting dangerous extremism is a bipartisan issue. This is a time when our country should be coming together to address racial inequality, the staggering rise in hate crimes, the ongoing global pandemic, and numerous other social issues threatening the fabric of our society.”

For information, visit holocaustmuseumla.org.