The first Holocaust Memorial in the Central Valley is now open at the Chabad of Bakersfield. Co-Director Esther Schlanger says it comes as hate speech rises on social media. “When there’s some kid out there or some individual who reads some tweet or Instagram post that says the Holocaust is exaggerated, it didn’t happen…you know, due to ignorance they might believe that.” Schlanger says Hitler spent years creating hate speech against the Jews. “We need to show them, we need to say, this did happen. This is a stain on humanity and it cannot happen again.” The main exhibit at the memorial is a garden where there are six million buttons that were donated from around the world, each representing a man, woman or child who was murdered. The Central Valley Holocaust Memorial is open daily, it’s on Ming Avenue near Ashe Road. Admission is free. SuzG