MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin– The Daniel M. Hoan Memorial Bridge and several downtown Milwaukee buildings will be lit in yellow on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in partnership with Light The Hoan. Bridge lights will turn on 30 minutes before sunset (around 4:30 p.m.) and remain on until 2 a.m. Milwaukee will join other cities nationwide as part of the Light Up America Yellow coalition to illuminate local landmarks in commemoration of the day.
This year’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi killing center and concentration camp, where 1.1 million people were brutally murdered during the Holocaust. The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately 6 million Jews and millions of others by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during World War II. Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2005, IHRD is intended to honor the victims of the Holocaust and raise awareness of the dangers of antisemitism and unchecked hate through education.
We’re living in a period of rising antisemitism, especially here in the United States. According to the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council, there has been a 459% cumulative increase in reported antisemitic incidents reported in Wisconsin since 2015.
“The Holocaust is the world’s cautionary example of what can happen when antisemitism thrives in any society,” said Samantha Abramson, executive director of the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center (HERC). “As our state’s leading Holocaust educator, it is our job to ensure that we all remember how, when, and why the Holocaust happened, to amplify the voices of Holocaust survivors, and to provide resources for students and educators to learn this vital history.
At the state level, under the co-sponsorship of Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) and Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin (D-Whitefish Bay), an Assembly Joint Resolution was introduced to recognize Jan. 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Wisconsin, encouraging citizens to participate in activities and educational programs that foster a deeper understanding of the Holocaust and its historical context, as well as the ongoing fight against hatred, discrimination, and antisemitism.
As the number of living Holocaust survivors dwindles, it is up to all of us to be a beacon of light in sharing their stories. HERC offers free lesson plans and resources for Wisconsin students and educators at TeachHolocaust.org. To learn more about HERC’s work and upcoming events, including its Speakers Bureau, visit HolocaustCenterMilwaukee.org. The Jewish Museum Milwaukee features permanent and rotating Holocaust exhibits.
In addition to the Hoan Bridge lighting, several buildings in the Downtown Milwaukee Business Improvement District will be lit in yellow on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Confirmed buildings to date: 600 East, 411 East, MGIC, Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, Milwaukee Art Museum, US Bank Center, The Domes, and Pabst Theater. An updated list of businesses will be posted to Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Facebook page on Tuesday.
