“As we pay tribute to all those who lost their lives, more than ever we share our determination to remember where hatred and disregard for human dignity can lead”. The President of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Marc Cools, wrote this in a statement to mark Remembrance Day. Mr Cools denounced the rise of extremist political discourse and divisive rhetoric, and an alarming increase in antisemitic violence and xenophobic hatred. For this reason, our towns, provinces and regions “must be bastions of inclusion, equal participation and peaceful living-together of all citizens, and safe places for them to live and work”. And their political leaders, Mr Cools concluded, have a responsibility to stand up against “intolerance and hatred and build strong, resilient and inclusive communities, to serve as a bulwark against violent extremism”.