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Holocaust Denial and Hate Speech

Group Activity

The purpose of this activity is to help students learn about Holocaust denial and hate speech. In order to do so, students will divide into groups and research one interviewee from the Museum’s Voices on Antisemitism series in-depth and present their research to the class using one of the options listed below.

Ladan Boroumand

Following an international meeting of Holocaust deniers in Tehran in 2006, Iranian exile Ladan Boroumand published a statement deploring the fact that denial of the Holocaust has become a propaganda tool for Iran's leaders today. Learn more 

Deborah Lipstadt

When Holocaust denier David Irving sued Deborah Lipstadt for libel in a British court, she experienced what she called "the world of difference between reading about antisemitism and hearing it up close and personal." Learn more 

Frank Meeink

In his book Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead, Frank Meeink describes with brutal honesty his descent into bigotry and violence as a teenage neo-Nazi. Through some surprising personal encounters, Meeink came to reject his beliefs and become an advocate for tolerance and diversity. Learn more 

Errol Morris

Errol Morris makes documentaries that investigate the past, focusing on small details and questioning why people do what they do. In his film Mr. Death, Morris looks closely at Fred Leuchter, an engineer who became an expert witness to Holocaust deniers. Learn more 

Brigitte Zypries

As Germany's Justice Minister, Brigitte Zypries is responsible for upholding justice, rights, and democracy in her country. Zypries explains why her government passed a law making Holocaust denial a criminal offense and why that law is important. Learn more 

Methodology

  • Divide students into groups.

  • Assign a podcast episode to each group.

  • Each group will research the person assigned to them, paying close attention to what he or she is doing to combat Holocaust denial or hate speech.

  • Students should consider who the individual is, where he or she was born, where this person lives now, what his or her motivation is in combating Holocaust denial or hate speech and what methods this person uses to carry out his or her work.

  • Once the groups have gathered the necessary information, they should present what they have learned about the individual assigned to them using any of the methods below:

    • Design a poster on the person including information on who he or she is and how this person is combating Holocaust denial or hate speech.

    • Write a newspaper article “reporting” on the individual and what he or she is doing to fight Holocaust denial or hate speech.

    • Create a profile on a Web site instructing others how to combat Holocaust denial or hate speech using the methods the individual has described.

    • Simulate a press conference.

Museum Resources

Holocaust Encyclopedia Articles:

This Section

Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial
What is Antisemitism?

Learn more about the different types of antisemitism and how to identify them.