Letter: Eternal vigilance against racism
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: I read with interest your report 'Jews fear prospect of rule by Mussolini's heir' (16 April). I have just spent a week in Italy, and can assure you that it is not the Jewish community alone which views with great apprehension the victory of the right-wing Freedom Party and the prospect of a government that may include neo-fascists.
The Pope, speaking at a Vatican concert to commemorate the Holocaust - a concert I helped to organise and was privileged to attend, together with the Italian President and the Chief Rabbi of Rome - referred to the long history of anti-Semitism. He said:
It is not enough that we remember, for in our own day, regrettably, there are many new manifestations of the anti-Semitism, xenophobia and racial hatred which were the seeds of those unspeakable crimes.
Your leading article 'Liberalism can cope with the skinheads' (16 April), referring to the situation in our own country, rightly reminds us of the importance of freedom of speech. But, as you point out, there are laws limiting that freedom. The Public Order Act and the Race Relations Act can be applied where the British National Party oversteps the mark. It may well be that these Acts need strengthening, with special reference to racial attacks. If this is the case, then it is the task of a liberal democracy to do so. Eternal vigilance remains the price of freedom.
Yours faithfully,
SIGMUND STERNBERG
Chairman
Executive Committee
International Council of
Christians and Jews
London, NW5
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments