Light the Darkness

Images: Ocean Outdoor

On Holocaust Memorial Day, Tuesday 27 January, the nation came together for Light the Darkness at 8pm – our powerful national moment of remembrance.

London’s Piccadilly Circus – one of the country’s busiest and most recognisable public spaces – was transformed into a place of reflection and a focal point for the moment. The iconic Picadilly Lights were taken over by six giant, flickering 3D candles, representing the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust.

Across the UK, hundreds of thousands of people also took part in their own homes and communities, lighting candles and placing them in their windows at 8pm. In addition, iconic buildings and landmarks lit up in purple around the country.  Light the Darkness is an important moment for the nation to come together; to remember the darkness of the past and to create light together, standing united against prejudice today.

This year, Light the Darkness reached further than ever before, amplified by a nationwide week-long billboard campaign encouraging people across the UK to take part. Created in partnership with Ocean Outdoor and supported by JCDecaux, Global and Bauer Media, Light the Darkness adverts have been screened across high-profile digital billboards in towns and cities nationwide, in the week leading up to 27 January, and on Holocaust Memorial Day.

Many screens invited passers-by to light a virtual candle via a QR code, enabling people to take part instantly and share the moment on social media – helping to amplify the message and inspiring others to stand with them against prejudice today.

Radio adverts also ran across Global’s radio network promoting Light the Darkness – including Capital, Capital XTRA, Heart, Smooth, Classic FM, LBC, Radio X and Gold.

Speaking at the Light the Darkness moment, Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said:

“Each year, we come together to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust, and the millions more murdered under Nazi persecution. The Light the Darkness national moment is a poignant opportunity for us to come together to remember the darkness of the past and to create light together, standing united against antisemitism and all prejudice today.

Our partnerships with Ocean Outdoor, JCDecaux, Global and Bauer Media are critical in enabling us to reach communities across the UK and extend Holocaust Memorial Day into the heart of our communities. We are so very grateful for their generous support for this campaign. 

At a time when prejudice and antisemitism are on the rise, it is more important than ever that we, as a nation, come together to remember the past and build a better future, rooted in empathy, understanding and respect.”