Thousands of demonstrators gathered across the street from the United Nations to protest Iran’s president.
At the Jewish-sponsored rally, timed to coincide with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to New York for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly, Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel said Ahmadinejad should be tried at a U.N. tribunal for inciting crimes against humanity, not honored with a speaking opportunity at the General Assembly.
Ahmadinejad is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Tuesday.
“The message to him is please go home,” Wiesel said. “Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, go home and stay there. We don’t want you here.”
Other speakers at Monday’s rally included Irwin Cotler, a former Canadian minister of justice and former Israeli politician Natan Sharansky.
