Jewish Groups Call for Strong Measures to Prevent Resurgence of Anti-semitism

Two Jewish organizations here called today for strong measures to prevent a local resurgence of anti-Semitism. The Jewish Students Union and the Movement Against Racism and Anti-Semitism urged French authorities and the public at large to react energetically against any symptoms of discrimination or overt anti-Semitism. They said that anti-Semitic slogans were recently scrawled on the walls of the synagogue in Rouen and cited that as symptomatic of anti-Semitic feelings. Several hundred young Jews demonstrated in front of the Soviet Embassy and other Soviet premises here last evening to protest the alleged discrimination against Jews in the Soviet Union. Police arrested 61 of the demonstrators for “identity checks” and released them.

The demonstrations were organized by the Jewish Communal House which is supported by the French Central Jewish Fund. They took place during the evening rush hour as thousands of Parisians left their offices. Several dozen demonstrators chained themselves to the iron bars that surround the Embassy, the offices of Aeroflot, the Soviet airline and the Soviet commercial delegation. Others handed out leaflets explaining that their action was “symbolic of the chains around Soviet Jews.”