In Rome, a significant nationwide protest against antisemitism unfolded at Piazza del Popolo, echoing similar demonstrations recently witnessed in London and Paris.
This aims was to bring attentionand prompt reflection on numerous disturbing incidents, including burnt Stolpersteine (stumbling stones), antisemitic graffiti, online hatred, David stars marked on walls, an offended rabbi in Turin for wearing a kippah, and even Palestinian flags at a demonstration against violence towards women, while dozens of girls raped by Hamas on October 7 were completely ignored simply because they were Jewish.
Politicians such as Matteo Salvini, Roberto Gualtieri, Carlo Calenda, Antonio Tajani, Ignazio La Russa, Gennaro Sangiuliano, Giuseppe Conte and Elly Schlein were present in the protest.
Upon their arrival, Noemi Di Segni and Victor Fadlun declared: “We would have preferred not to be the organizers but rather guests of the event promoted by the institutions, and in the end, we are the promoters. We take on this responsibility, but we want to make it clear that we are not the ones to be pitied; this is a collective responsibility. We must unite, come together with all political forces. Tonight, the leaders of all parties will be present, and this is very important.”
“The most important appeal today,” added Di Segni, “is to make it understood that religion should not in any way become a tool of war.” And finally: “I address the request to Pope Francis not to put everyone on the same level; equidistance and equivocation do not help to grasp the real problem. If we truly want to help the Palestinians and the Palestinian people, as well as Arabs in Israel and other territories, we must help them break free from the grip of terrorism and certainly not let it come here to Italy.”
