Upstanders: Our True Heroes: Yesterday, Today and 2026

Leslie Grossman
6 hours ago
3 min read

Last week, on January 27th, was International Holocaust Remembrance Day, designated by the United Nations. I viewed the ceremony last week on UN Web TV and was inspired by the personal story shared by Holocaust survivor Ms. Leonie de Picciotto, born in 1939 before the Nazis took over the Netherlands in 1940.

Ms. Picciotto shared that her own survival, and her family's, was due to the Upstanders of 1941–45. Upstanders in WWII were individuals and groups who risked their lives to resist Nazi atrocities, rescue victims, and defy persecution. Notable examples include Oskar Schindler, who saved over 1,000 Jews; Varian Fry, who organized refugee escape networks; and the Danish Underground, which collectively saved the majority of Denmark's Jewish population. Ms. de Picciotto reminded us that there were thousands of Upstanders during WWII who hid, rescued, and defied authorities to save Jews from extermination, at risk to their own lives.

Holocaust Remembrance Day is an important day to many, not only to those of the Jewish faith. Why? Because today we are living under a threat that mimics how the Holocaust began, but has rarely been shared in history. Today's anti-immigrant profiling, aggressive tactics, societal impact, imprisonment, lack of humanity, and murder are not unlike the early tactics which led to the Holocaust.

The history of the Holocaust warns every human being of the deadly consequences of how authoritarianism begins, and hatred of those who are different. It begins with dehumanization and apathy when it is left unchallenged. Over eighty years after the Holocaust, we are witnessing daily assaults on our fellow global citizens. There were thousands of Upstanders during WWII, and we have the potential for many thousands of Upstanders today. Today's Upstanders speak up and make tremendous efforts to protect people in their community against the 'gestapo'-like tactics of ICE, which have intensified dramatically to the point we saw last week, resulting in the murder of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by out-of-control ICE forces.

This past week, we have also witnessed thousands of people in Minneapolis and in other U.S. cities courageously defying the tactics of ICE. Today's Upstanders are serving as witnesses to bullying and injustice in high-risk situations, and yet they choose to intervene to support the victims rather than remain passive bystanders. They promote community accountability by speaking up and protecting each other against injustice.

While Google no longer includes “International Holocaust Day” on its online calendar page, it is important for us to mark January 27 on our calendars as a day to share the stories of not only those we have lost during the Holocaust, but the Upstanders who continue to show the greatest courage to protect humans, both past and present.

By Leslie Grossman, author, Start with Vision and co-author, Circles of Collaboration, lesliegrossmanvision.com.

– Leslie

MORE FROM THIS MONTH'S NEWSLETTER

• Books for your 2026 journey

• Workshops to support your success

• Quote to inspire your inner courage.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME A MORE COURAGEOUS LEADER

• Executive Women's Leadership Program

The George Washington University – Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, College of Professional Studies

For women executives, professionals and entrepreneurs. Live, webcam highly Interactive leadership program, connecting women no matter where they live and work.

Live on Zoom for 3 days – May 6, 7 & 8, 2026.

• Courageous Leadership & Career Development

Leslie Grossman leads private 1-2-1 professional coaching sessions; and collaborative circles for women pursuing their visionary goals.

Beginning March, 2026