Milan protesters wear kippahs in solidarity with assaulted rabbi

Hundreds of people gathered in Milan's Piazza San Carlo for the ‘Milano indossa la kippà’ (Milan wears the kippah) demonstration to protest antisemitism and show solidarity with a local rabbi.

The protest follows a September 16 incident in the Bande Nere area, where Rav Tzemach was harassed and kicked by youths while at a bus stop. Authorities have arrested one individual and filed charges against two others for racially motivated crimes.

Walker Meghnagi, president of the Milan Jewish Community, addressed the crowd, expressing exhaustion over the need for security escorts and the inability to move freely without fear. He called on President Sergio Mattarella to take a stand and urged the Democratic Party to support upcoming antisemitism legislation. Chief Rabbi Alfonso Arbib also spoke, noting that such acts of violence are increasingly being given an ‘ideological alibi’ rather than being treated as simple hooliganism.