The Anti-Semitic Dark Side of Yesterday’s Demonstrations in Paris

June 15, 2020

PARIS – “As in last year’s infiltration of the ‘Yellow Vests’ demonstrations by antisemitic, ant-Zionist and Holocaust denying neo-Nazis, so yesterday, Jew-hatred was exposed at the rally inspired by ‘Black Lives Matter’, in an around the Place de la République in Paris,” stated the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels.

 Right-wing extremists unfolded a provocative banner from the rooftop of one of the surrounding buildings, whereas some in the Square responded screaming “Sales Juifs!” (“Filthy Jews”) and chanting “Vive la Palestine!”

Stickers on lamp-posts, printed for the occasion, blared:

• Palestine: terres volées, civils bombardés, enfants torturés... qui est le terroriste? (Palestine: land stolen, civilians bombed, children tortured... Who is the terrorist?
• La Palestine aux Palestiniens! Boycott Israel! (Palestine to the Palestinians! Boycott Israel!)
• Stop à la collaboration avec le terrorisme d’état israélien (Stop collaboration with Israeli State terrorism)

 The Centre has requested the Paris Municipality to clear such anti-Israel political stickers... but, during this period prior to upcoming Mayoral elections, there has been little response from the authorities...

 “We therefore call upon the leaders of ‘Black Lives Matter’ to publicly condemn antisemitism, whether from extreme right or far left infiltration into their movement,” concluded Samuels.

For further information, contact Samuels at csweurope@gmail.com, join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed. 

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization numbering over 400.000 members. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).