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

Paris, 14 June 2020 

“As in last year’s infiltration of the ‘Yellow Vests’ demonstrations by antisemitic, anti-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).

(Photo taken by Simon Wiesenthal Centre)

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.