Amid US racial divisions, Auschwitz memorial issues warning

WARSAW, Poland — The memorial site of Auschwitz-Birkenau appears to have weighed in on the debate over US President Donald Trump’s response to the outpouring of anti-Semitic and racially charged hatred in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The state museum writes on Twitter: “One of the hardest lessons for us today. Perpetrators were people. They accepted an ideology that rationalized and promoted hatred & evil.”

Beneath the words is a photo of Auschwitz officers and guards smiling and having fun.

One of the hardest lessons for us today. Perpetrators were people. They accepted an ideology that rationalized and promoted hatred & evil. https://t.co/wqJMUxMOvH

— Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) August 16, 2017

The message is posted in several languages two days after Trump made comments which appeared to rationalize the actions of neo-Nazis and white supremacists who marched in Virginia.

A museum spokesman told The Associated Press that people are free to interpret the message as they wish.

Auschwitz stands today as a painful reminder of what racist & antisemitic ideologies can lead to, of what may happen when people hate… pic.twitter.com/T1ygdlZwU0

— Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) August 13, 2017

— AP