Thousands of people gathered on Tuesday in Piazza del Popolo in Rome to attend a rally against antisemitism and terrorism organized by the Union of the Italian Jewish Communities and the Jewish Community of Rome. Some of the highest-ranking representatives from the political, religious, and civil spheres were present in the square.
\nSenator for Life Liliana Segre also joined the initiative: “We always think that it’s over, that the world has moved on,” she said the day before the rally. But instead, she said with bitterness, “we have to see Jews being hunted down and killed because they are Jews; being asked to apologize because they are Jews; being forced to hide because they are Jews.”
\n\u201cWe cannot remain silent before what is happening,\u201d stated UCEI President Noemi Di Segni, urging all of society to mobilize. It is a plea that is not just meant to be \u201cfrom Jews to Jews,\u201d but it is also a call to take to the streets regardless of ethnic, cultural, and religious distinctions to defend a \u201cpacific and safe coexistence\u201d that also includes the \u201cfreedom to wear the David\u2019s star around one\u2019s neck or the kippot on one\u2019s head.\u201d
\nSince October 7, we have observed an increase in antisemitism in all its forms,” said Di Segni again, recalling the many manifestations of the phenomenon: from Islamic fundamentalism to conspiracy theories, passing through religious antisemitism. President Di Segni did not hide her disappointment, with the position taken by \u201cunions, NGOs, organizations such as Amnesty International and UNICEF, and women organizations like Non una di meno\u201d on the conflict and its repercussions defining them as subjects \u201cwith a twisted political agenda.\u201d
\nDi Segni also stated that \u201cwe were expecting other organizations that cherish life\u201d to arrange such initiative. But unfortunately, it was not the case. \u201cThis initiative of ours has the desire to fight against miscommunication that is likely to bring us back to the worst that European culture produced in the past,\u201d stated Victor Fadlun, President of the Roman Jewish community.
\n\u201cJewish presence is a precious resource. Today we are seeing that it is threatened by a resurfacing poisonous and karstic trend. Jews have been attacked and stumbling stones commemorating the victims of the Holocaust have been desecrated in Italy as well,\u201d he added later, exhorting every citizen who is sensitive to certain values to participate to what has the ambition to be \u201ca celebration of freedom and democracy.\u201d The deep meaning of the initiative \u201cis that the constitutional principles the Italian State is based on cannot be questioned,\u201d reiterated Fadlun.<\/p>\n