Rome’s mayor is backing a call by Jewish youth in Italy to rename a street in honor of dissident Iranian students.
The Union of Italian Jewish Youth urged Mayor Gianni Alemanno to rename the street where the Iranian embassy is located to “July 9th St.” to recall pro-democracy student demonstrations in Tehran on July 9, 1999, that left dozens killed or injured.
In a statement late last week, Alemanno said the idea would have “high symbolic value” as “a strong sign of protest against intolerance.” He said he hoped that city regulations regarding street names would allow such a name change to be made.
Meanwhile, the city of Bologna announced it would rename a street in honor of Giorgio Perlasca, an Italian businessman who helped save thousands of Jews in budapest during World War II.
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