Munich bans yellow stars at coronavirus protests
Star of David Silhouette Image by Getty Images
BERLIN (JTA) – Germany has seen several protests in cities across the country over the government’s strict coronavirus lockdown, and at some, demonstrators have worn yellow Stars of David meant to resemble the ones that Nazis forced Jews to wear during the Holocaust.
These stars often say “not vaccinated” or “vaccination will set you free,” a play on the ironic slogan displayed in several Nazi concentration camps, such as Auschwitz. Jewish leaders and public officials have expressed concern about the rhetoric.
Josef Schuster, head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, called the display “Holocaust trivialization.”
The city of Munich took action on Sunday, banning the display of yellow stars at demonstrations. Those who flout the regulation face a fine, according to the Bavarian Broadcasting service, though the fine amount was not given.
Germany does not force citizens to be vaccinated, but last year — following a measles outbreak — it barred children and educators from schools if they had not been vaccinated or naturally immunized. Not attending school carries a fine, which provided an indirect incentive to immunize.
The government has reiterated that, should a vaccine be developed against the coronavirus, citizens can choose whether to be immunized.
Following Munich’s lead, a politician in the former East German state of Saxony-Anhalt is proposing a similar crackdown. Rüdiger Erben, of the Social Democratic Party, on Sunday called those who display such propaganda “anti-Semites of the most repulsive sort.”
Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories proposing Jewish responsibility for the coronavirus have gained traction among Germany’s fringe, and the country recently reported the highest number of anti-Semitic crimes since 2001.
The post After German Jewish groups raise concerns, Munich bans display of yellow stars at coronavirus protests appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
