Italian Partisans Association ANPI on Monday defended its controversial slogan for its march in Milan on the April 25 Liberation Day national holiday, when the country celebrates its liberation from Fascism and the Nazi occupation in World War II - 'Ceasefire Everywhere'.
"The slogan of the Milan event remains," said ANPI President Gianfranco Pagliarulo after the message came under fire.
"We're not just calling for a ceasefire, we're calling for iteverywhere. It's important to stress this".
Enrico Mentana, a news anchor for La7 television and one of Italy's most highly respected journalists, was among those to criticize the slogan.
“Imagine if this watchword had been launched in 1944, in equal measure for the invaders and the Partisans,” Mentana said in a Facebook post.
"We would still be marching with the goose step.
"And what if the request concerned only Gaza (but there too: what about the release of the hostages? And the end of the Israeli occupation in the West Bank?). "But when it comes the other war, the indifference is shameful.
"It's like saying: 'Ukrainians, hold you fire! It doesn't matter if they have occupied a piece of your homeland. We'll explainhow to be a partisan to you'."
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