What happened to the Holocaust survivor memorial bench in Clowes Park?

The audio memorial bench dedicated to Holocaust survivor Chaim Ferster was vandalized, smashed, and thrown into the boating lake at Clowes Park.

Who was Chaim Ferster and why was the bench important?

Chaim Ferster was a Holocaust survivor who endured eight Nazi death camps. The bench allowed his story to be heard by future generations, warning against hatred.

What are the police doing about the vandalism of the Clowes Park bench?

Greater Manchester Police are treating the incident seriously and are actively investigating, following all available lines of inquiry to identify those responsible.

Home / Crime and Justice / Holocaust Survivor Bench Vandalized in Park

Holocaust Survivor Bench Vandalized in Park

8 Jan

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Summary

An audio memorial bench for Holocaust survivor Chaim Ferster was destroyed.
The bench told the story of Ferster, who survived eight Nazi death camps.
Police are investigating the 'vile act of hatred' as antisemitism.

Holocaust Survivor Bench Vandalized in Park

An audio memorial bench dedicated to Holocaust survivor Chaim Ferster has been destroyed in Clowes Park, Salford. The bench, which played Ferster's story, was smashed and thrown into the park's boating lake. Ferster, who passed away in 2017, was a survivor of eight Nazi death camps, including Auschwitz, where numerous family members perished.

The incident has been widely condemned as a "vile act of hatred" and antisemitism. Jewish groups highlighted the bench's purpose in allowing Ferster to "speak to future generations from beyond the grave" and warn against hatred. The Campaign Against Antisemitism expressed dismay that such an educational tool was "wantonly destroyed."

Ferster, originally from Poland, survived brutal conditions and loss during the Holocaust. His son emphasized his father's fear of people forgetting the horrors, motivating his extensive lecturing. Greater Manchester Police are investigating the incident seriously and pursuing all leads to apprehend those responsible for this act of vandalism.