Antisemites in Milan yell pro-Hitler slogans, bully Jews on a day commemorating victory over fascism

The incident took place during events marking the 81st anniversary of Italy’s liberation from Nazism.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Jewish participants were forced to leave a rally during Italy’s Liberation Day celebrations in Milan on Saturday after facing insults and antisemitic chants, with police escorting them out for safety.

The incident took place during events marking the 81st anniversary of Italy’s liberation from Nazism.

Individuals carrying banners for the World War II Jewish Brigade were among those targeted by other protesters and were eventually removed from the rally.

Witnesses reported that participants were surrounded as insults were directed at them. “Murderers” was among the slogans shouted, along with phrases including “You’re just failed soap bars,” “Long live Hitler” and “All Zionists out.”

Additional chants of “Long live Hitler” were reported during the confrontation.

Daniela Ovadia, a rally attendee who belongs to the Jewish community, described the incident in a Facebook post.

“We joined the rally behind the banner of the left-wing Jewish scouts, grandchildren of camp survivors and partisans,” she wrote.

“My daughter was stopped by someone in the rally, [who told her] ‘You are lucky you are not a soap bar.’”

Police later escorted the group out of the rally and instructed them to leave due to safety concerns.

Former MP Emanuele Fiano, the son of an Auschwitz survivor, described the atmosphere at the event as “horrible.”

The incident occurred amid broader tensions during the commemoration in Milan. Separate episodes of friction between groups were reported during the anniversary, and in previous years, neo-fascist salutes have been recorded at other commemorations in the city.