Jewish Leaders Support Ban on Russian Nationalist March

November 11, 2006

Source: European Jewish Press

http://www.ejpress.org/article/11498#

MOSCOW (EJP)--- Russian Jewish leaders have expressed their support for the local authorities in Moscow after a street march planned by several ultra-nationalist groups for last weekend was banned.

"Moscow is a multi-ethnic and a multifaith city. If different ethnic and religious communities do not live peacefully together, unrest is guaranteed in the city and in the whole country," Berel Lazar, Russia’s chief rabbi, said in response to the city’s decision to ban the so-called Russian March planned for Saturday.

St. Petersburg also banned a similar event slated for the November 4 Unity Day, a national holiday in Russia.

Moscow came under fierce criticism last year after it allowed thousands of nationalists to march downtown on Unity Day.

Many sported Nazi insignia and yelled "Heil Hitler."

Organizers of this year’s march were not discouraged by the ban and said they would go ahead.