Harvind Grewal, director of legislative affairs for the Bakersfield College Student Government Association (BCSGA), has worked with BCSGA senator Amanda Anguiano and director of student organizations Sonoma Rose Ball on forming and legislating a Senate Bill to “Remember and Recognize National Holocaust Remembrance Day” (SB 16). 

National Holocaust Remembrance Day, also known as Yom HaShoah, is a day to remember and honor the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust. Grewal, Anguiano, and Ball’s bill aim to raise awareness about the significance of the day and educate the Bakersfield College community about the Holocaust’s atrocities. 

Grewal stated that “in recent years, there has been a disturbing rise in hate crimes, xenophobia, and antisemitism globally. Recognizing the National Holocaust Remembrance Day is a crucial step in acknowledging the past and taking steps to prevent such atrocities from happening again as well as informing and creating awareness toward social justice and important historical events.” Overall, Grewal’s efforts in creating a bill to recognize and remember National Holocaust Remembrance Day demonstrate the BCSGA’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusivity, and representation. 

The bill to remember and recognize National Holocaust Remembrance Day was referred to the committee of legislative affairs for further review. Following the review, the bill was passed to the senate body, where it received a unanimous vote