Clay Higgins Responds To Criticism For Video Taken Inside Auschwitz Memorial And Museum

UPDATE: Congressman Clay Higgins' office sent a response to KPEL's Bernadette Lee to the criticism he is receiving:
“I filmed the Auschwitz message with great humility. My intent was to offer a reverent homage to those who were murdered in Auschwitz and to remind the world that evil exists, that free nations must remember, and stand strong. 
However, my message has caused pain to some whom I love and respect. For that, my own heart feels sorrow. Out of respect to any who may feel that my video posting was wrong or caused pain, I have retracted my video. 
The atrocities that happened at Auschwitz were truly despicable, and we must never let history repeat itself in such a way. I have always stood with Israel and all Jewish people, and I always will. We live in a dangerous world, and massive forces of evil do indeed yet exist. We must all stand united against those evils. My Auschwitz video has been removed, and my sincere apology for any unintended pain is extended.”
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Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins is facing criticism this morning for a video that he shot from inside of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. The criticism is from officials at the facility saying he should not have recorded this inside of the facility.

When it was posted at @Lee Johnson Media, this is what their posting said,

"Congressman Clay Higgins spent some time at Auschwitz, the site of a Nazi concentration camp in Poland, and he has shared an important message for us all, that it is a stark and heavy reminder that we must stand for an end to the persecution of other human beings and be wise in choices dealing with our own national security."

The video was posted on Saturday, July 1.

Officials at the museum take issue with the Congressman recording from inside of the gas chamber, as they say it is a place that should be held in respectful silence.

The group even posted a sign that is clearly visible before you go into the building that asks any visitors to "maintain silence here."

There has been no official comment from Congressman Clay Higgins or his office as they were closed for the 4th of July holiday. We will ask for his comment today.

But, what do you think? Was he wrong to do this? What did you think of his message?

And just this morning, the Anne Frank Center issued this statement:

CONGRESSMAN, YOUR CONDUCT AT AUSCHWITZ IS A GLOBAL DISGRACE.U.S. Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana visited the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland and made of a video of the former gas chambers as his own infomercial for the U.S. military. Those who run the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum have condemned the Congressman's conduct, and so do we. "Congressman Higgins, Auschwitz is not a television studio," said Steven Goldstein, Executive Director of the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect. "It is the site of genocide and tragedy for the Jewish people that you have disrespected. Not only must you apologize, but you must also get the sensitivity training appropriate for your continued service in the U.S. Congress."#NeverAgain to any people.

 

 

Filed Under: auschwitz, birkenau, clay higgins
Categories: Acadiana News, Local News

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