More than 50 mayors demanded justice in the AMIA and signed a declaration against anti-Semitism

32 years after the terrorist attack against the AMIA, more than 50 mayors from 14 Argentine provinces met at the institution’s headquarters to demand justice and sign a joint declaration. The document demands an end to the impunity that has persisted since 1994 and calls for strengthening the fight against anti-Semitism in every corner of the country.

He Federal Meeting for Memory He summoned communal leaders from Buenos Aires, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, Mendoza, Misiones, Salta, San Juan, Santa Fe and Tucumán. The meeting represented a gesture of federalization of the claim for the attack that the institution suffered on July 18, 1994, a few days before the 32nd anniversary of the tragedy.

Memory as state policy

The head of government of the city of Buenos Aires also participated in the meeting, Jorge Macriand the Minister of Health of the Nation, Mario Lugoneswho spoke on behalf of the national government, replacing Diego Santilli, the new Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers. Also present were the president of AMIA, Osvaldo Armozaand the heads of Jewish communities throughout the country.

«Impunity not only affects the victims and their families. It hurts all of Argentina. It is time to pay off that debt» stated Minister Mario Lugones, who pointed out that the AMIA cause is a priority for the national government.

The focus of the meeting: the joint declaration

The center of the day was the signing of a document in which the mayors reaffirmed their commitment to demanding justice for the attack, preserving the memory of the 85 fatalitiesand the promotion of initiatives to strengthen democratic coexistence, human rights and education in values.

The document also promotes concrete actions to prevent and eradicate antisemitism, xenophobia and all forms of discriminationand emphasizes that an independent and effective Justice is an essential condition for consolidating a more just society.

The voice of the mayors

For his part, Jorge Macri highlighted AMIA’s ability to convene representatives from across the political spectrum in the same cause, and warned about the resurgence of hate speech when values ​​such as respect and solidarity deteriorate.

The president of AMIA, Osvaldo Armozahighlighted the participation of mayors from across the country and stated that the objective is for the message of the attack to transcend borders and strengthen the commitment of the entire society.

«We want to create a meeting space for mayors to understand and convey what the attack on the AMIA meant. We must build a better society and make sense of the fact that these deaths were not in vain.» he expressed.

Passerini: “The attack was against all of Argentina”

The mayor of Córdoba, Daniel Passerinireferred to the importance of the meeting and maintained that the attack “It was not against a community, but against the entire Argentine Republic” .

“It was the most serious terrorist attack in the history of the country and, unfortunately, it remains unpunished” said Passerini, who valued the work carried out by AMIA and DAIA to federalize the commemoration with the participation of mayors from different provinces.

The Córdoban community leader stressed that the presence of representatives from all over the country “it gives a very strong significance to the encounter” and assured that “Argentina needs more federalism” to face its challenges.

Passerini also pointed out that public policies are carried out from Córdoba to combat anti-Semitism, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination, with educational programs on the Holocaust and State terrorism. “The best legacy that a tragedy like this can leave is that the pain serves to ensure that it never happens again in Argentina” he expressed.

Asked about the role of the institution, the mayor highlighted that the AMIA is “an institution that works with a deep mutual and supportive spirit” which provides assistance to both members of the Jewish community and people outside the community. «The AMIA works with transparency and closeness to the people. It is an example of the social commitment that it has developed for decades» he concluded.

The tribute to the 85 victims

Before the signing, a tribute was held to the fatal victims of the attack. There was a minute of silence, the lighting of 85 candles and a prayer by the Chief Rabbi of AMIA, Eliahu Hamra. Relatives of victims participated in the lighting along with the president of DAIA, Mauro Berenstein, and the president of the Vaad Hakehilot of AMIA, Marcos Cohen.

As a closing, the community leaders received a serigraph by the artist Martín Ron, author of “The wall of memory” a work located in the Pasteur building 633. The meeting is part of the activities organized by AMIA during the Remembrance Month.

Authorities present

The Argentine ambassador to Israel, Axel Wanisch, also participated in the meeting; the Israeli ambassador to the Argentine Republic, Eyal Selá; Cristina Álvarez Rodríguez, head of advisors of the province of Buenos Aires; Fulvio Pompeo, Secretary General and International Relations of CABA; Juan Manuel Olima, Secretary of Institutional Coordination of the Attorney General’s Office; and other national and provincial officials.

AMIA official site