Orange County marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, pledges education funding for students

On Jan. 27 the Orange County Board of Supervisors marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day, recalling the January 1945 liberation of the Auschwitz‑Birkenau complex and urging continued education and vigilance against antisemitism.

Supervisor Don Wagner and others invited local rabbis and community leaders to join the dais and recognize county proclamations. Rabbi Rick Steinberg, representing the Jewish Federation of Orange County and other community organizations, thanked the board and warned that antisemitism persists; he urged official action to ensure hateful acts have consequences under the law.

Katrina Foley highlighted the Holocaust Education Center of Orange County and said her office had dedicated $250,000 to support student field trips so more local students can visit the museum, meet survivors and learn about the causes and consequences of hate. “This museum… is one of the most impactful experiences that I've had in my life,” Foley said when describing student tours and the museum’s artifacts.

Speakers and supervisors emphasized that Holocaust education functions as hate‑prevention: officials described reductions in bullying and other positive school outcomes after museum visits and said they plan to expand student access. Supervisors also asked the public to confront denial and distortion of the Holocaust and to report hate incidents.

The proclamation drew multiple short remarks from community leaders and supervisors; there were no policy votes tied to the proclamation itself. County staff said the funding and partnerships aim to expand school tours and related educational outreach throughout the county.

The board then moved on to its regular business.