SALEM – A legislative hearing on a largely non-controversial bill to require Holocaust education in Oregon schools took a sharp turn on Wednesday after several people downplayed or denied the Holocaust in their testimony against the measure.

Senate Bill 664 easily passed the Senate in March. The hearing in the House Education Committee was mostly a formality, a necessary step in the legislative process after which the bill would be sent to a vote on the House floor.

But after some 30 minutes of testimony from supporters -- including a husband and wife who had survived the Holocaust as children -- the tenor of the hearing changed dramatically.

Marlayne Madison called the Holocaust “a tool of division to be exploited.”

“We all know how history evolves,” said Marvin Sandnes. That’s a common argument from those who argue that new information shows the Holocaust either did not happen or that far fewer Jewish people died than the six million who are widely believed to have perished in Nazi concentration camps.

Sandnes has frequently -- but never successfully -- run for legislative and congressional seats. He’s also known for pushing 9/11 conspiracy theories in public displays at the state capitol.

Another person testifying against the bill, Mark DeCoursey of Salem, accused lawmakers of “cherry-picking the lessons from the past to satisfy one political group or one small religious group.”

The debate left some on the committee visibly shaken, and its chair, Rep. Margaret Doherty, D-Tigard, called a recess for members to regroup.

Doherty let everyone who signed up to testify against the measure have their say, with some conditions.

Representative Margaret Doherty (D) at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. Beth Nakamura/Staff

“I’m going to ask you not to read your (written) testimony,” she said to Thomas Madison of Salem, who had submitted his comments in writing before the hearing. In it, Madison claimed that a relatively small number of Jews died in concentration camps, mostly from disease and starvation.

“Some of the things in the testimony are quite offensive to me personally,” said Doherty. “We’re going to give you the opportunity to speak, but I want to have you just very, very briefly summarize what your testimony is.”

That did not sit well with Madison. His voice rising, he said he should be allowed to counter what he called “the exaggerations” of those who feel schoolchildren should be taught about the Nazi genocide.

“I’m offended by it,” said Madison. “This is a public testimony, a place where people come to discuss issues left and right. And you have stopped me from doing so.”

“Yes, I have,” responded Doherty, calmly.

With testimony over, committee members discussed the hearing before casting their votes. Rep. Courtney Neron, D-Wilsonville, said she first learned about the Holocaust in-depth as a teenager, when she visited the Dachau concentration camp.

“Nothing has made me want to take this vote more than some of the testimonies we have heard today,” she said. “I am so glad we are supporting this kind of education because we have to get the message out and the facts straight.”

The committee voted 9-0 to send Senate Bill 664 to the House floor. Afterwards, Doherty reflected on the hearing she had just chaired.

“I’m not a person that likes to promote hate and untruths,” she said. “You give people the opportunity to speak, up to a point. And then you tell them their testimony is over.”