The 8 May Coalition held its annual meeting on Sunday at Fort Breendonk.
The coalition aims to have 8 May recognised as a public holiday to mark the end of World War II, the victory over fascism, and to remember the victims of Nazi atrocities. This meeting is a collaboration among trade unions, civil society, cultural, and academic communities. They also call for enhanced educational efforts on historical remembrance to prevent fascism from gaining power again.
Irish trade union leader Esther Lynch declared, “We need to dare to shout louder.” Other speakers conveyed that while optimism might be lacking, hope remains. More than ever, there is a clear rise in authoritarian practices threatening freedom of expression worldwide.
The human rights movement warns that dangerous trends are on the brink of escalation. “At a time when racism, hate, and dehumanisation are re-emerging, this commemoration serves not only as a reflection on the past but as a call to engagement and vigilance today.”
On 10 April 2025, a resolution was passed in the federal parliament recognising the extraordinary resistance of ordinary people during World War II, bringing the 8 May Coalition’s request for an official holiday closer to reality.
