In October of 1942, a Jewish man named Leo Bretholz was on a deportation train headed to the Auschwitz death camp. He was born and raised in Vienna until the Nazis took him and sent him on a train ride toward his death. Thankfully, he was able to escape by jumping off the train. Of the 1,000 people on board that train, only five lived. Now the company that owned and operated that train and many others, Paris-based SNCF, is looking to expand in the United States.

Mr. Bretholz has started a petition on change.org, asking that SNCF be held accountable for the 76,000 people that they deported to death camps. He said this on his petition, “Enough is enough. It is time for SNCF to be held accountable for its active role in the Holocaust. Tell SNCF and its American subsidiary, Keolis, that as they seek to expand their business in the United States — with many projects funded by the tax dollars of the very survivors who were deported toward the death camps on SNCF trains — they must pay reparations to these Holocaust survivors and their families.”

A company that sent thousands of people towards their death should not be allowed to operate in the United States, unless they are held accountable for their actions.

To sign Leo’s petition visit change.org. Also, write to your elected officials in Congress asking them to support the Holocaust Rail Justice Act.

People matter.

 

Jacob Jensen

Albert Lea