In Brief
November 25, 2009 Brazilians Protest Ahmadinejad Visit
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA) -- Hundreds of Jewish and non-Jewish Brazilians protested in Rio de Janeiro on the eve of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit.
About 800 people marched along the elegant Ipanema beach to protest the Iranian president's visit on Nov. 23.
Jews, homosexuals, Afro-Brazilians, Gypsies, students, human-rights activists and members of several other groups carried banners and posters that read "Mr. President: freedom of expression, explain it to your guest," "The Holocaust didn't happen?" and "Denying the Holocaust is like denying there was slavery in Brazil."
One of the march organizers, Victor Grinbaum of the Zionist Articulation group, said that "Ahmadinejad's visit to Brazil challenges our country's tradition, for we are an example of a liberal, multiracial and peaceful society. Neither diplomacy nor commercial pragmatism justify such an invitation because Ahmadinejad exports hatred."
For Hillel group member Michel Gherman, "Ahmadinejad is not only a threat for Jews, blacks and homosexuals, he is a threat for democracy. We're here united to defend a free world."
Similar marches were held last week in several other Brazilian cities.
Ahmadinejad is the third Middle Eastern leader to visit Brazil this month. Both Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have recently been to South America's largest country.
