Czech Federation of Jewish Communities: Yellow Star of David at Prague demonstration is textbook abuse and relativization of a Holocaust symbol

The Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic has condemned Friday's march against the Government measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic during which several participants wore yellow stars with the inscription "Unvaccinated". Several Czech politicians had already condemned the demonstrators' behavior before the Federation issued its statement.

News server Romea.cz previously reported that Friday's protest in support of outgoing US President Trump and against vaccinations to combat the novel coronavirus was also attended by extremists who have previously been fighting against receiving refugees, against the religion of Islam, and against Romani people. "The Federation of Jewish Communities and the Foundation for Holocaust Victims are condemning the textbook abuse and relativizing of a Holocaust symbol that is associated with the suffering of millions of people. It is evident that it is necessary to constantly educate our society and to recommend that all who resort to such base displays visit the locations associated with the Nazi genocide both at home and abroad. We thank all who publicly condemned these displays during the Sabbath today," the Federation posted to Facebook.

The behavior of those attending the demonstration had previously been condemned by the chair of the TOP 09 party, Markéta Adamová Pekarová. "I don't understand what is going through the mind of a person who wears such a Star of David to a demonstration. I took my sister, who is 13 years younger than me, to the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial to show her how far human hatred can go. These 'heroes' should be made to go there, and whoever doesn't understand it at that place is beyond help," the TOP 09 chair posted to Twitter.

The Israeli Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Daniel Meron, also expressed a tough attitude toward the demonstrators' behavior. "The use of the Yellow Star of David in anti-vaccination protests is a disgrace and an insult to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust," he posted to Twitter.

The use of the Yellow Star of David in anti-vaccination protests is a disgrace and an insult to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust.
(Photos are from Facebook) pic.twitter.com/6oXNajEqSd

— Daniel Meron (@AmbMeron) January 9, 2021

The chair of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Petr Fiala, also called the use of the symbol a cheap and insulting form of protest. The chair of the lower house club of the Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL), Jan Bartošek, called the demonstrators confused and disinformed.

"Nobody is persecuting you. At most, you're persecuted by your own stupidity. This is moral chutzpah, this is the rape of the Holocaust symbol of those victims. You all have the opportunity to cast a ballot in free elections, which the Jewish people then, or the persecuted Christians and Uyghurs in China have never had and still do not have," the MP wrote.

Friday's protest was attended by several dozen people. It was against the Government measures to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading, an expression of support for outgoing US President Trump, an opportunity to cast doubt on the outcome of the American presidential election, and an opportunity to question the circumstances around the recent death of former Slovak Police President Milan Lučanský.