A vile act that deeply shocks us

The writings on the plaque commemorating Stefano Gay Taché—an Italian child victim of anti-Semitic terrorism—and on the exterior wall of the Monteverde Synagogue represent a cowardly act that affects not only the Jewish community but the entire country. It is an act that deeply shocks us, and should shock the conscience of all Italians, because it once again highlights the presence of fringe groups that do not hesitate to desecrate the memory, history, and fundamental values ​​of our democracy, even without respect for places of worship. The rights and freedoms protected by the Constitution cannot be bent, offended, or intimidated by those who seek to sow fear and division. While the plaque’s physical decorum can be restored with a simple cleaning, the moral decorum and coherence of the memory of little Taché can be fully restored only by ending all forms of tolerance towards acts that exploit conflicts, victims, and memory, and by ensuring that no cover-up or ambiguity—on the part of organized groups, political groups, or representatives at any level—can further facilitate those who fuel violence and destabilize democracy in Italy.

Noemi Di Segni, Presidente Ucei