USC Shoah Foundation Institute's Executive Director to address CA State Assembly

Watch live broadcast at 11 AM at http://www.calchannel.com

WATCH BROADCAST LIVE AT 11:00 AM AT www.calchannel.com. Click on the Live Webcast tab on the right side of the page and select 10:00 Assembly Floor Session.

On May 2, Stephen D. Smith, the USC Shoah Foundation Institute's Executive Director, will help commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Week (May 1-8) at a special Holocaust Memorial Ceremony at the California State Assembly.

The ceremony, hosted by Assemblymembers Marty Block (D-San Diego) and Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), will honor Holocaust survivors and World War II veterans.  More than 40 survivors, veterans and their guests from throughout California are expected to attend to share stories of survival and memorialize those who lost their lives.  Smith will discuss the importance of the preservation of the testimonies of those whose lives were touched by the Holocaust.

The 2011 Holocaust Memorial Project will be screened during the May 2 ceremony.  For the past 8 years, California high school students have collected written testimonies from Holocaust survivors for the annual project, which is organized by the Assembly.  This year, for the first time, students have collected video-recorded accounts much like those archived by the USC Shoah Foundation Institute.