Thousands Protest Haredi Violence in Jerusalem

Thousands of secular and religious Jerusalemites and out-of-towners rallied in the capital to protest ultra-Orthodox violence and coercion.

On the heels of last week’s arrest of a young woman for wearing a talit and carrying a sefer Torah in the public plaza in front of the Western Wall (see previous posting), a protest march and rally was held in Jerusalem on Saturday night November 28. The Masorti (Conservative) Movement, of which the “offender” is a member, joined forces with the “Forum of Organizations for a Free Jerusalem” to organize the march.

The Forum was created to protest the expropriation of the Kotel by the Haredim and their radicalization of Jerusalem in general, as well as the violence of the Intel and Karta parking lot actions. It includes Jerusalem based political parties and organizations, along with national parties and youth movements.

Amid shouts of “a free Jerusalem,” the protesters marched through the center of town from Paris Square to Zion Square. The placards they carried displayed a mixed agenda, from “There is more than one way to be Jewish,” and “the Kotel is for everyone,” to “ Iran is here – we’re sick of Haredi violence” and “Enough of carrying Haredim on our backs ,” which expressed the fear and disgust of many.

“One time it’s a parking lot, another time it’s Intel, and in another case it’s the Pride Parade. These are merely excuses for shows of force, violence, and coercion, ” asserted MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz).

Speakers also called for tolerance and freedom of worship for all. “The residents of Jerusalem are not indifferent, and will not give up on a pluralistic city,” declare d Jerusalem city council member Joseph “Pepe” Alalu.

For the entire article

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3811967,00.html

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