Holocaust Museum to 'Pokemon Go' Players: Stop Playing Here

Pokemon Go has exploded in the United States in the last few days, and people can be seen far and wide wandering around trying to catch nearby Pokemon, but one organization isn't happy about it — the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

It seems that Pokemon Go players have been using the museum as their own personal battleground, waging duels with Rattatas and Doduos in a place that memorializes the millions of victims of Nazi oppression and cruelty. In addition, there is a "Pokestop" — a virtual place where players can get free items like pokeballs and potions — inside the building, and that doesn't sit well with the museum.

"Playing Pokemon Go in a memorial dedicated to the victims of Nazism is extremely inappropriate," museum spokesperson Andy Hollinger said. "We are attempting to have the Museum removed from the game. The Museum encourages visitors to use their phones to share and engage with Museum content while here. Technology can be an important learning tool, but this game falls far outside of our educational and memorial mission."

Pokemon Go has been an explosive success in the United States, and the phenomenon has added $7.5 billion to Nintendo's market value in just the last few days.

The game works by turning the real world into a virtual playground where many different kinds of Pokemon lurk around every corner. There are Pokestops and Gyms scattered around any given area, forcing players to walk to certain locations in order to catch Pokemon or get items.

The popularity of the game has led police departments across the nation to warn players about safety concerns, such as not paying attention to their surroundings or wandering around in unfamiliar areas by themselves.

Image via Wikimedia