in the shadow of Germany’s interwar turmoil a figure emerged whose name would become synonymous with cruelty and Terror clous Barbie born on October 25th 1913 in bad gburg a small town near Bon Barbie’s early years were shaped by the aftermath of World War I and the economic struggles that plagued the viar Republic the town of bad godur now a part of Bon would later gain notoriety as the site of the 1938 mun agreement negotiations between Hitler and Chamberlain a cruel irony given the role one of its Sons would play in the coming
years young klouse grew up in a middleclass family his father Nicholas serving as a school teacher and later as a civil servant the Barbie household like many others in Germany at the time felt the sting of national humiliation following the Treaty of versailes this atmosphere of resentment and economic hardship would prove fertile ground for the seeds of extremism that would later Define K clous Barbie’s life the hyperinflation of 1923 which saw the value of the German Mark plummet to the point where children
played with stacks of worthless banknotes left an indelible mark on the young Barbie’s psyche as a child klous was described as intelligent but withdrawn his father’s strict discipline and the loss of his brother to illness in 1923 further shaped his for formative years tragedy struck again when Nicholas Barbie who had fought in World War I died in 1933 from wounds sustained during his military service this loss occurring in the same year that Adolf Hitler Rose to power marked a turning point in klous Barbie’s life it was said
that Barbie kept a photograph of his father in uniform throughout his life a reminder of the military Legacy he sought to uphold and surpass at the age of 20 swept up in the fervor of national socialism Barbie joined the Hitler Youth his involvement with the Nazi party deepened rapidly and by 1935 he had become a member of The Seer heightd SD the intelligence agency of the SS this marked the beginning of Barbie’s descent into the darkest corners of the third reich’s Machinery of Oppression it was during this time that Barbie first
encountered Reinhard hyrich the architect of the Holocaust who would become a significant influence on his career Barbie’s rise through the ranks was Swift and ruthless he quickly gained a reputation for his efficiency and unwavering dedication to Nazi ideology in 1937 at the age of 24 he joined the Nazi party officially receiving membership number 4,583 185 his commitment to the cause was total and his superiors took notice one of his early mentors SS stuman furer France 6 later remarked Barbie had a keen mind for intelligence work and an
uncompromising dedication to our cause he was destined for great things in the service of the Reich as War loomed on the horizon Barbie’s role in the SS expanded in 1940 he was assigned to the Netherlands where he honed his skills in Counter Intelligence and the brutal suppression of resistance movements in Amsterdam Barbie was involved in the Roundup of Dutch Jews including the raid that nearly captured an Frank and her family in 1942 in November 1942 Barbie’s trajectory took a Sinister turn when he was posted to Leon France at just 29
years old he was appointed head of the local gisho officially known as section 4 of The seika Heights poit eared SD lion a hot bed of French resist resistance activity became the stage for Barbie’s most notorious atrocities the city known as the capital of the resistance would become a crucible of suffering under Barbie’s Reign under Barbie’s command the gestapo and Leon embarked on a reign of terror torture became a routine practice with Barbie personally overseeing and often participating in the brutal interrogations his methods were so
Savage that even some of his Nazi colleagues were Disturbed One SS officer Harold Haynes later testified Barbie’s reputation for cruelty was known even among the SS his name alone was enough to make prisoners tremble his methods were so extreme that they even caught the attention of Claus Koken the senior SS and police leader in France who in 1944 noted Barbie was absolutely ruthless a true friend a true enemy Barbie’s brutality extended to his own men he once reportedly EXE uted a subordinate for showing leniency to a
prisoner as the war Drew to a close Barbie fled Leon on August 19th 1944 narrowly escaping capture by the advancing Allied Forces he retreated to Germany where he continued to work for the crumbling Nazi intelligence apparatus until the final days of the Third Reich in the chaos of defeat Barby managed to evade Justice unlike many of his colleagues who faced trial at nurmberg the reign of terror clous Barbie’s bloody Legacy in Lion The cobblestone streets of Leon once alive with the bustle of everyday life fell silent
under the shadow of Nazi occupation in November 1942 a dark figure arrived to take command of the city’s gestapo headquarters at the hotel Terminus klouse Barbie at just 29 years old would soon earn the chilling Monica The Butcher of lion a title that would haunt the city for generations to come the hotel Terminus located at 182 Avenue birillo became the epicenter of Terror its elegant facade masking the horrors within lion known as the capital of the French Resistance became the stage for Barbie’s most heinous acts the city with
its strategic location at the Confluence of the ran and seon rivers had long been a center of Commerce and culture now under Barbie’s Reign it would become a crucible of suffering Jean Mulan the resistance leader once said of lion here beats the heart of the resistance little did he know how prophetic those words would become as the city’s heart would soon be tested by unimaginable cruelty the hotel Terminus a once elegant establishment on Kur D Veron was transformed into a house of horrors within its walls Barbie
orchestrated a campaign of Terror that would claim the lives of an estimated 14,000 people during his 2-year Reign the hotel’s basement with its Maze of corridors and soundproof rooms became Barbie’s personal torture chamber survivors spoke of the constant screams that echoed through the building a symphony of Agony that never ceased Barbie’s methods were as cruel as they were effective his preferred torture technique known as the Bena or bathtub involved submerging victims in ice cold water until they nearly drowned only to
revive them and begin the process a new survivors spoke of electric shocks beatings and psychological torments that pushed the boundaries of human endurance one resistance fighter Henry bant later recalled Barbie didn’t just want information he enjoyed the suffering he inflicted another Survivor Lisa Lev described how Barbie personally broke one of her vertebrae with a spiked ball attached to a chain an injury that plagued her for the rest of her life the butcher’s reputation spread quickly through the underground networks of the
resistance his name became synonymous with brutality striking fear into the hearts of those who dared to oppose the Nazi regime Barbie took a personal interest in hunting down members of the resistance seeing it not just as a duty but as a sadistic game he was known to disguise himself and frequent local cafes listening for any Whisper of resistance activity this led to the capture of numerous operatives including the renowned Raymond orra and his wife Lucy in June 1943 one of the most infamous episodes of Barbie’s tenure in Leon occurred on
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June 21st 1943 on that fateful day he captured Jean Mulan the high ranking leader of the French Resistance in the suburb of cir atqui Mulan a symbol of French Defiance was subjected to unimaginable tortures under Barbie’s direct super vision for days mulah endured beatings water torture and having his fingernails torn out despite the agony Mulan never broke never revealed the names of his compatriots he died on July 8th 1943 his silence a final Act of resistance against the Nazi Terror years later Andre malro would say of Mulan
today Jean we come to escort you into the French Pantheon you who perfectly knew what it meant to be French you perfectly knew what it meant to be human the capture and torture of mulah was a devastating blow to the resistance but it only fueled Barbie’s appetite for cruelty he intensified his efforts launching raids across liar and the surrounding Countryside no one was safe from his reach not even children Barbie’s network of informants grew and he employed French collaborators known as the mise to Aid in his reign of
terror one such collaborator Paul tuvia would later become the first Frenchman convicted of crimes against humanity for his role in Barbie’s operations on April 6th 1944 Barbie ordered one of his most notorious operations the raid on a children’s home in eure a small village about 60 Mi east of Leon the home had been a safe haven for Jewish children many of whom had been smuggled out of Germany and occupied territories in a single sweeping action Barbie’s men arrested 44 children and seven adults the youngest
child was just 4 years old they were all sent to aitz where most were gasted upon arrival only one adult Leah feldblum survived to testify decades later she remembered Barbie’s cold Smile as the children were loaded onto trucks saying it was as if he was watching a school outing not sending innocence to their deaths among the children was 11-year-old Lilian garstein who had written a letter to God just days before the raid pleading God how good you are how kind and if one had to count the number of goodnesses and kindnesses you
have done one would never finish the iure raid was just one of many operations targeting Jews in the region under Barbie’s command thousands of Jews were rounded up and deported to death camps he personally oversaw many of these deportations meticulously documenting the process with the same efficiency he applied to torture sessions one of his most meticulous Records Was of the deportation of 86 Jews from Leon on August 11th 1944 just days before the city’s Liberation this document would later serve as crucial evidence in his trial
as the Allied Forces Advanced and the liberation of France Drew near Barbie’s actions became even more frenzied in a final Act of Cruelty he organized the last transport from Leon known as the last train on August 11th 1944 just days before the city’s Liberation over 600 prisoners were crammed into cattle cars Bound for Nazi camps among them was Simone lrange then a teenage girl who later testified Barbie was there on the platform watching us with those cold eyes I’ll never forget that gaze the Train’s Journey was Haled by
Allied bombings and some prisoners managed to escape those who couldn’t were sent to ravensbrook and aitz Barbie’s reign of terror extended beyond the walls of the hotel Terminus and into every corner of lion he turned the city’s infrastructure against its people using informants collaborators and the everpresent threat of reprisals to maintain control the mon Luke prison originally built in the 19th century became an antichamber of death where thousands of prisoners passed through on their way to torture sessions
deportation or execution today the prison stands as a memorial its cells bearing Silent Witness to the suffering endured within its walls one of Barbie’s most chilling Innovations was the use of front stal houses Apartments throughout the city that served as impromptu torture centers these nondescript locations allowed the Gestapo to operate with terrifying efficiency snatching people off the streets and extracting information before anyone knew they were missing one such house at 200 rud Dei became Infamous for the screams that emanated
from its windows at night the true extent of Barbie’s crimes may never be fully known many of his victims did not survive to tell their stories and countless others were too traumatized to speak of their experiences however the testimonies that did emerge paint a picture of a man consumed by sadistic rage and ideological fervor Marcel oel in his documentary Hotel Terminus The Life and Times of klous Barbie captured the enduring trauma of Barbie’s victims with one Survivor stating he didn’t just kill people he killed their
souls as the Allied Forces closed in on Lion in late August 1944 Barbie fled the city leaving behind a legacy of pain and horror he escaped on August 19th just days before lion was liberated on September 3rd the hotel Terminus once a symbol of Nazi Terror was reclaimed by the people of Leon but the scars left by the butcher would take generations to heal resistance fighter Eve Farge summed up the city’s Liberation saying Leon has suffered lion has fought Leon is liberated in the years that followed survivors and family members of Barbie’s
victims fought tirelessly to bring him to Justice it would take nearly four decades before he finally faced trial in Lion The Very City he had terrorized as he stood in the dock in 1987 facing his accusers the weight of his crimes hung heavy in the courtroom Simone lrange who had survived the last train and aitz confronted him saying I want you to admit to your crimes before you die Barbie unrepentant to the end declared when I stand Before the Throne of God I shall be judged innocent the serpent Escape clouse
Barbie’s Shadow life in Bolivia as the dust settled on the ruins of Nazi Germany in May 1945 one of its most notorious war criminals slipped through the cracks of Justice embarking on a journey that would lead him from the blood soaked streets of Lyon to the sunbaked highlands of Bolivia clouse Barbie the infamous Butcher of lion had cheated The Hangman’s noose and was about to begin a new chapter in his dark Saga the man who had once declared I don’t recognize any Jewish state I’m a German and will remain one was about to reinvent himself
in a land far from the scenes of his crimes the year was 1945 and Europe was a chaotic Patchwork of Devastation and retribution Barbie his hands still metaphorically stained with the blood of thousands found an unlikely savior in the form of the United States counterintelligence Corp cic the cic eager to exploit Barbie’s anti-communist expertise in the burgeoning Cold War provided him with a new identity and a ticket to freedom this decision would later prompt US senator Alan Cranston to remark to have used Barbie and others like him
whose sole qualifications were their committed Nazi past was a blunder of the first order under the Alias klouse Altman Barbie was Spirited Away to South America in 1951 joining the ranks of numerous Nazi fugitives seeking Refuge in the welcoming arms of right-wing Latin American regimes Barbie’s Journey took him first to Argentina where he briefly worked for the government of Juan Peron before finally settling in Bolivia in 1955 lapaz the world’s highest Capital City perched precariously in the Andes at over 3,500 m above sea level became
Barbie’s new hunting ground here amidst the thin air and rugged terrain the former gestapo officer found a political climate as harsh and unforgiving as the landscape itself the city’s narrow winding streets and Colonial architecture provided the perfect backdrop for a man accustomed to operating in the shadows Bolivia in the 1950s was a nation in turmoil plagued by coups and counter cou it was in this volatile environment that Barbie now known as klous Altman thrived he quickly ingratiated himself with the country’s
milit milary rulers offering his expertise in interrogation and counterinsurgency his Services were particularly valued by the regime of General Renee ventos who came to power in a 1964 coup Barbie’s influence grew to such an extent that he was often seen in the company of high ranking officials at public events a far cry from his days as a fugitive Barbie’s official role was that of a businessman running a shipping company called trans maritima but Oliviana however this was merely a front for his more Sinister activities behind
the scenes Barbie was deeply involved in arms trafficking drug smuggling and providing security consultancy to a succession of Bolivian dictators his methods honed in the torture chambers of lion found new application in the suppression of leftist movements across Bolivia one former Bolivian intelligence officer speaking on condition of anonymity later revealed Barbie’s techniques were considered state-of-the-art he taught us things we had never even imagined one of Barbie’s most notorious acts during this period
was his alleged involvement in the capture and execution of CH gavara in 1967 while his exact role remains disputed there are claims that Barbie provided intelligence that led to gara’s location and advised on interrogation techniques the revolutionary’s final words shoot coward you you are only going to kill a man May well have been uttered in the presence of his old Nemesis the Nazi torturer Felix Rodriguez the CIA operative present at gara’s execution later wrote in his Memoirs there were Whispers of a European adviser someone with a dark
past we never saw him but his presence was felt Barbie’s influence extended Beyond Bolivia’s borders he became a key figure in the so-called cocaine coup of July 17th 19 1980 when General Luis Garcia metah seized power with the backing of drug traffickers and international Neo fascists barie drawing on his old Nazi connections helped recruit European mercenaries for the coup including the Italian terrorist Stefano Del chiaya the coup established Bolivia as a narco state with Barbie at the heart of its operations as one DEA agent later put it
Barbie turned Bolivia into a playground for ex-nazis and drug lords it was like a bad Hollywood movie except it was real throughout his time in Bolivia Barbie maintained contact with other Nazi fugitives scattered across South America he was part of a loose Network that included Yosef mangela in Paraguay and Walter Ralph in Chile this ratline as it came to be known was a testament to the enduring bonds forged in The Crucible of the Third Reich in 1972 a secret meeting of these EX Nazis was held in sa Paulo Brazil where Barbie reportedly boasted
we are building a fourth Reich here in South America Barbie’s life in Bolivia was not without its luxuries he owned a sprawling Hender outside leaz where he entertained government officials and fellow ex-nazis his daughter UT married a Bolivian and became part of the country’s Elite for a time it seemed that klous Barbie had truly escaped his past he even had the audacity to give interviews to local newspapers presenting himself as a respectable businessman and anti-communist crusader in one such interview with larazon in
1976 he declared Bolivia has given me a new life and I am grateful for it the Lions Roar Justice catches up with the butcher in the annals of post World War II Justice few stories are as compelling as the Relentless Pursuit and eventual capture of clouse Barbie the infamous but of lion for decades this Nazi war criminal had eluded the grasp of Justice hiding in plain sight in the Bolivian Highlands but on February 5th 1983 as the andian sun cast Long Shadows over lapaz the net finally closed around one of the most Wanted men in the world the
capture of Barbie was not just the end of a Manhunt but the beginning of a reckoning that would force France to confront its wartime past the hunt for Barbie had been a long and arduous Journey spanning continents and decades at the Forefront of this Pursuit were Serge and beta clarfeld a husband and wife team of Nazi Hunters whose determination would become legendary their Quest began in Earnest in 1971 when they discovered that Barbie was living comfortably in Bolivia under the Alias klous Altman the clarfeld
investigation was meticulous involving countless hours pouring over documents and tracking down leads they even Enlisted the help of their young son Arno who at one point posed as a journalist to confirm Barbie’s identity the clarfeld methods were as unorthodox as they were effective in 1972 beta clarfeld chained herself to a bench in lapaz demanding Barbie’s extradition her actions garnered International attention shining a spotlight on Bolivia’s harboring of Nazi fugitives Serge clarfeld later called we knew we had to
make noise to make it impossible for the world to ignore Barbie’s presence their persistence was remarkable especially considering the threats they faced in 1979 neo-nazis bombed their car in France a stark reminder of the Dangerous Waters they were navigating their efforts bore fruit in 1983 when a newly elected civilian government in Bolivia led by President hernand syles zuazo finally agreed to extradite Barbie the decision came after years of diplomatic pressure and changing political winds on that fateful February day Bolivian
police accompanied by French officials arrested the 69-year-old Barbie at his home in lapaz the Operation codenamed Condor was the culmination of years of planning and negotiation interestingly the French team included Roger Shay a former resistance fighter who had been tortured by Barbie during the war Shay’s later described the moment of arrest I looked into his eyes and for a second I saw a flicker of recognition he knew his time was up as he was led away Barbie reportedly quipped I have nothing to hide I’m proud of my past these words
would come to haunt him as he was flown to France touching down at the Leon Bron airport on February 6th 1983 it was a poetic return to the very City where four decades earlier he had earned his gruesome Monica the flight at self was fraught with tension French authorities fearing an assassination attempt had Barbie wear a bulletproof vest and surrounded him with heavily armed guards the sight of Barbie on French soil electrified the nation survivors of his brutality many now in their Twilight years felt a mix of
relief and trepidation as one Survivor Lisa Lev put it I never thought I would live to see this day now the nightmares might finally end Lev had been tortured by Barbie for 9 days in 1944 an ordeal that left her with lifelong injuries her testimony would later prove crucial in the trial the trial of clous Barbie began on May 11th 1987 in Leon’s palet de Justice the ornate 19th century Courthouse stood in stark contrast to the grim tales that would unfold within its walls over the next 8 weeks the court would hear
testimony from 97 Witnesses painting a harrowing picture of Life under Barbie’s reign of terror the proceedings were broadcast on French television marking the first time cameras were allowed in a French courtroom this decision was not without controversy with some arguing it would turn the trial into a spectacle the prosecution led by Pierre trou presented a damning case they detailed Barbie’s role in the deportation of 44 Jewish children from an orphanage in isure a crime that would become emblematic of his cruelty Leah feldblum
one of the few survivors of this deportation testified I can still hear the screams of the children as they were torn from their beds Barbie stood there smiling as if he were watching a school play the Izu raid which took place on April 6th 1944 became a focal point of the trial symbolizing the depths of Nazi barbarity other Witnesses recounted horrific Tales of torture at the hotel Terminus Barbie’s headquarters in Leon Simone lrange who was tortured by Barbie confronted her Tormentor in court do you remember CLA Barbie she asked her voice
unwavering I want you to look at me I was the girl you tortured lr’s testimony was particularly powerful as she described how Barbie had tortured her father to death and deported her mother to aitz Barb’s defense led by controversial lawyer Jac verges attempted to shift Focus onto France’s Colonial atrocities arguing that the trial was an exercise in selective Justice verges known for his rupture defense strategy declared France has no right to judge this man when its own hands are stained with the blood of Algeria this tactic while provocative
ultimately failed to sway the jury verges who had previously defended other controversial figures like Carlos the Jackle later said of Barbie he was a soldier doing a dirty job in a dirty war but he was not alone throughout the trial Barbie remained largely impassive attending only the first 3 days before boycotting the procceedings his absence did little to diminish the weight of evidence against him documents eyewitness accounts and historical records painted a damning picture of his activities during the war one
particularly chilling piece of evidence was a telegram Barbie had sent to his superiors in 1944 boasting of the deportation of Jewish children this morning the Jewish Children’s Home in isure was cleaned out altogether 41 children aged 3 to 13 were apprehended transportation to Dron SE will take place on July 4th 44 one of the most shocking revelations came from testimony about Barbie’s role in the arrest of Jean Mulan a hero of the French Resistance Witnesses described how Barbie personally tortured mulah who died without revealing any
information the courtroom fell silent as Daniel cordier mulan’s former secretary recounted mulan’s silence in the face of such brutality was the epitome of resistance mulan’s sister law also testified saying my brother’s sacrifice must not be in vain this trial is for him and for all those who resisted as the trial progressed it became clear that this was more than just the prosecution of one man it was a Reckoning with France’s wartime part forcing the nation to confront uncomfortable truths about collaboration
and resistance historian Henry Russo noted the Barbie trial opened Old Wounds but it also allowed for a kind of national catharsis the trial brought to light the complex nature of French society during the occupation challenging simplistic narratives of heroic resistance and Universal collaboration on July 4th 1987 after deliberating for more more than 6 hours the jury returned its verdict clouse Barbie was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life imprisonment as the verdict was read a collective sigh seemed to Ripple through
the courtroom and Beyond outside the palet de justi crowds had gathered and a cheer went up when the news was announced it was a moment of vindication for the survivors and their families many of whom had waited over four decades for this day Barbie’s final words to the court were unrepentant I fought against the resistance which I respect in accordance with my ideals I have the feeling that the French are overcome by a guilt complex because of the vichi government and because of the events of the Algerian War his lack of remorse was
striking even to those who had followed the case closely it echoed Hannah arants famous observation about the banality of evil highlighting how ordinary individuals could commit extra orary atrocities while maintaining a sense of normaly the conviction of clous Barbie was a landmark moment in international Justice it marked the first time France had prosecuted someone for crimes against humanity and set important legal precedents the trial had lasted 37 Days involved over 800 civil plaintiffs and cost an estimated 3.5 million Franks it
was at the time the most expensive trial in French history the proceedings had been followed closely around the world with daily updates in major newspapers and on television the media played a crucial role in shaping the trial’s impact on public Consciousness documentaries like Marcel ool’s Hotel Terminus The Life and Times of clous Barbie 1988 brought the complexities of Barbie’s case to a wider audience the film which won an Academy Award delved deep into Barbie’s post-war activities including his work for us intelligence
and his life in Bolivia adding layers to the Public’s understanding of the long shadow cast by Nazi war criminals oil’s work was particularly notable for its interviews with bolivians who had known Barbie under his Alias klous Alman revealing how a war criminal could lead a seemingly normal life for decades in literature the Barbie trial inspired numerous works both fiction and non-fiction notably the 1989 book The Butcher of lion by Brendan Murphy provided a comprehensive account of Barbie’s crimes and his eventual capture
becoming a seminal text for those seeking to understand the case’s historical context Murphy’s work detailed Barbie’s reign of terror in Leon including his role in the deportation of 44 Jewish children from its year on April 6th 1944 an event that became Central to his prosecution the trial’s Legacy continues to resonate in contemporary discussions about war crimes and accountability the successful prosecution of Barbie along with other Nazi war criminals like Adolf ikan has served as a touchstone for debates about International Justice when
the international criminal court was established in 2002 many pointed to the Barbie trial as a precursor demonstrating the possibility and importance of holding individuals accountable for crimes against humanity regardless of the time elapsed as Benjamin ference the last surviving nurburg prosecutor once said there are no time limits on crimes against humanity in recent years the barie case has found new relevance in discussions about modern-day atrocities and the pursuit of Justice the conviction of Bosnian Serb leader ravan kadzik in 2016
for genocide and war crimes Drew comparisons to Barbie’s trial with many citing it as evidence of the enduring influence of post World War II prosecutions on international law similarly the ongoing Trials of former Kum Rouge officials in Cambodia have been linked to the precedent set by the Barbie case highlighting the global reach of its impact the story of clous Barbie has also been adapted for the screen multiple times each iteration contributing to the evolving public understanding of his crimes and their
historical context the 2007 French film my enemy’s enemy directed by Kevin McDonald explored the complex web of Cold War politics that allowed Barbie to evade Justice for so long prompting audiences to consider the often murky intersection of geopolitics and Justice the film revealed how Barbie under the code name Adler worked for the US Counter Intelligence Corp from 1947 to 1951 a fact that many found shocking and disillusioning in the aftermath reactions were mixed for many survivors and their families the verdict brought a
measure of closure Serge clarfeld stated justice has been done but it can never truly compensate for the suffering Barbie caused others felt that the trial while important had come too late Raymond obra a prominent resistance figure remarked we have waited too long for this moment many who should have seen this day did not live to witness it clous Barbie spent the remainder of his life in Mont Luke prison the very place where he had once imprisoned and tortured his victims this ironic twist of fate was not lost on those who had
suffered under his rule Barbie died of leukemia on September 25th 1991 at the age of 77 to the end he remained unrepentant a chilling reminder of the depths of human cruelty and the enduring challenge of bringing war criminals to Justice and as we close this chapter of History The Echoes of klous Barbie’s trial in 1987 continue to reverberate through time from the halls of the palet de Justice in Leon to the Far Corners of our Collective memory the story of The Butcher of Leon serves as a stark reminder of the long arm of justice and
the enduring power of bearing witness in the end perhaps the most poignant lesson from this dark chapter of History comes from Anne Frank whose words resonate across the decades I keep my ideals because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart it is with this hope tempered by the knowledge of History’s darkest moments that we move forward ever mindful of the past and committed to a more just future thank you for joining us on this journey through memory and Justice May the lessons of the Barbie trial continue
to inspire and educate generations to come goodbye and let us never forget
