The recent public statements by Remigijus Žemaitaitis, a Member of the Seimas, against our Jewish fellow citizens have once again revealed the anti-Semitic discourse that is still widespread and well established in the society, both on social media pages and in the activities of the ultra groups. What is most astounding is that ethnic hatred is being incited by a politician representing the State of Lithuania, using trivial anti-Semitic stereotypes. The public performance of a primitive, colloquial ‘poem’ about a ‘stick’ and a ‘Jew’ may seem to some people to be just a comic relic. However, one cannot overlook a more dangerous phenomenon: the demagogic distortion of history, which aims to consolidate in people’s minds a narrative of the collective guilt when particular individuals and groups are identified with the entire national community. It is in this very way that Žemaitaitis holds “the Jews” responsible for the murder of the Lithuanians from the village of Pirčiupiai by the Nazi police. While some may think that it is not worth reacting to these and similar myths, as this would only encourage their dissemination, we believe that not reacting is a short-sighted turning away from civic responsibility. Hateful fakes still circulate on the Internet, and no doubt have the support of some of the public. It is a phenomenon that is dangerous for young people, society at large, and Lithuania. Hate speech violates elementary moral principles and the laws of the Republic of Lithuania, but this is not the only aspect of the harm caused by public anti-Semitic discourse. The special services hostile to Lithuania undoubtedly use every opportunity to present to the world the image of our country as a haven for anti-Semitism. Indifference towards anti-Semitic provocations can easily be interpreted as a tacit approval. Therefore, we believe that an unequivocal condemnation of public anti-Semitism by both the political elite and the active public, as well as continuous efforts to promote tolerance and the presentation of the undistorted history of Lithuania in schools, universities, and other educational institutions, is the only way to combat historical misinformation and hate speech.
Emanuelis Zingeris, the Chairman of the International Commission for Evaluation of the Crimes of the Soviet and Nazi occupation regimes in Lithuania
Dr. Saulius Sužiedelis, Professor Emeritus of history, Chairman of the Sub-Commission for Evaluation of the Crimes of the Nazi Occupation regime and the Holocaust
Andrew Baker, AJC Director, International Jewish Affairs, Member of the International Commission
Jonathan Brent, Executive Director/CEO, The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, Member of the International Commission
Arūnas Bubnys, the General Director of the Genocide and resistance Research Centre of Lithuania, Member of the International Commission
Christoph Dieckmann, University of Bern, Member of the International Commission
Norman M. Naimark, Robert and Florence McDonnell Professor of East European Studies Stanford University, Member of the International Commission
Antony Polonsky, Emeritus Professor of Holocaust Studies at Brandeis University, Member of the International Commission
Ronaldas Račinskas, the Executive Director of the International Commission for Evaluation of the Crimes of the Soviet and Nazi occupation regimes in Lithuania
Ingrida Vilkienė, Deputy Executive Director of the International Commission – Coordinator of Educational Programmes
Eglė Šukytė-Malinauskienė, Deputy Executive Director of the International Commission – Coordinator of Research Programmes
Linas Venclauskas, Vytautas Magnus university, “Sugihara Diplomats for Life Foundation”
Liveta Šikarskaitė, Vilnius University
Sania Kerbelis, leader of the Šiauliai County Jewish Religious Community
Robertas Maziliauskas, the teacher of Algimantas Mackus Gymnasium in Pagėgiai
Vaidotas Pakalniškis, the teacher of Lavoriškės Gymnasium
Kristina Šlepavičiūtė, the teacher of Domeikava Gymnasium
Skirmantė Petraitienė, deputy director of Lizdeika Gymnasium in Radviliškis
Arvydas Kavaliauskas, the teacher of Lizdeika Gymnasium in Radviliškis
Arūnė Vaičiūnaitė – Levuškinienė, Meilė Lukšiene Educational Center in Marijampolė
Ingrida Vilkinienė, the teacher of Jotvingiai Gymnasium in Alytus
Daiva Sabaliauskienė, the director of Putinai Gymnasium in Alytus
Stasys Valančius, the director of Balbieriškis Lower Secondary School
Reda Valančienė, the teacher of Balbieriškis Lower Secondary School
Asta Marcinkevičienė, the teacher of Balbieriškis Lower Secondary School
Ramutė Švedienė, the teacher of Balbieriškis Lower Secondary School
Saulius Kondrotas, the teacher of Balbieriškis Lower Secondary School
Gražina Antanavičienė, the teacher of Balbieriškis Lower Secondary School
Daiva Paneckienė, the teacher of Vincas Kudirka pro-Gymnasium in Šiauliai
Rita Samoškienė, the teacher of Vincas Kudirka pro-Gymnasium in Šiauliai
Jolanta Pleskutė, the teacher of Rytas pro-Gymnasium in Kėdainiai
Audronė Rudienė, the teacher of Rytas pro-Gymnasium in Kėdainiai
Rasa Legenienė, the teacher of Aukštakalnis Gymnasium in Utena
Rūta Jasevičienė, the teacher of Ąžuolas Gymnasium in Varėna
Kristina Dorofėjienė, the teacher of Simonas Daukantas Gymnasium in Papilė
Ramūnas Janulaitis, the director of Sugihara Diplomats for Life Foundation
Sigita Matuzevičienė, the teacher of Juozas Balčikonis Gymnasium in Panevėžys
Virginija Dūdienė, the lecturer of EM Language Academy in Klaipėda
Diana Murauskienė, the teacher of Veršvos Gymnasium in Kaunas
Virginijus Jokšas, the director of Bartuva pro-Gymnasium in Skuodas
Tautvydas Anilionis, the director of Tolerance Education Center in Panevėžys
Janina Bucevičė, Samogitian museum „Alka“
Tomas Pažarauskas, the teacher of Juozas Grušas art Gymnasium in Kaunas
Henrikas Vaicekauskas, the teacher of Vocational center in Kėdainiai
Arnoldas Riekumas, the teacher of Naujamiestis school in Vilnius
Virginija Mikšaitė, the teacher of Piliuona Gymnasium
Birutė Kulpinskaitė, the director of Raseiniai Regional History Museum
Diana Valantinaitė, Raseiniai Regional History Museum
Loreta Kordušienė, Raseiniai Regional History Museum
Lina Kantautienė, Raseiniai Regional History Museum
Gintarė Norkienė, Raseiniai Regional History Museum
Lina Vapsevičienė, Raseiniai Regional History Museum