Chiara Nava " Criticizing Israel is not anti-Semitism ." This was the slogan that accompanied the demonstration held in Rome 's Piazza Montecitorio against the anti-Semitism bill currently under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies. Around 300 groups, including associations, trade unions, human rights organizations, student groups, pro-Palestinian movements, and left-wing parties , joined the demonstration.
Among the signs displayed during the demonstration were " Stop the genocide " and " We always defend the right to criticize ." Protesters symbolically covered their mouths with black tape or keffiyehs, transforming the gesture into a message against what they call " gags " on freedom of expression.
The protest against the bill
The demonstration was attended, among others, by Amnesty International, the National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI), the Italian Communist Party (ARCI), the Italian General Confederation of National Liberals (CGIL), the National Federation of Italian National Liberals (FNSI), and the NoBavaglio Network, as well as various left-wing groups. Also present were young members of the Rome Democratic Party (PD), a delegation of the so-called Priests Against Genocide, and several parliamentarians from the Five Star Movement , including Riccardo Ricciardi , leader of the House of Representatives, and Laura Boldrini, a Democratic Party MP.
The protest began with five minutes of noise, including whistles, keys, and sirens, before giving way to a lengthy oratory marathon. The organizers' stated goal was to challenge a measure deemed infringing on freedom of thought and the right to criticize.
" This bill is unconstitutional ," argued Maya Issa , president of the Palestinian Student Movement in Italy and one of the organizers of the sit-in, citing Articles 3 and 21 of the Constitution. According to Issa, the measure aims to " muzzle the pro-Palestine movement ."
Hamas and Hezbollah flags at the demonstration spark controversy.
The demonstration, however, was not immune to internal tensions. A small group of participants first waved a Hezbollah flag, followed by those of Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine . This gesture provoked a reaction from other protesters , who openly protested the display of the flags. " Those flags did not represent the common sentiment of that square ," Issa later commented, emphasizing that the invitation to the more than 300 groups present was to carry only one flag, the Palestinian one, to avoid divisions within the movement.
Tensions continued even after the marathon speech, when some of the protesters criticized the organizers for not giving them space on the stage. Issa responded by asserting his commitment to the Palestinian cause. The protest front is now looking ahead to the next meeting. " We will be here again on October 2nd for the second reading of the bill ," it was announced at the end of the demonstration. " We will not be muzzled or censored ."