PERUGIA, ITALY, September 25, 2011 (WAFA) – More than 50,000 Italians and foreigners participated on Sunday in the ‘Perugia-Assisi Peace March', which started from Assisi city to reach city center of Perugia, in Italy, raising Palestinian flags in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their just cause, demanding the recognition of a Palestinian state.
Participants, who came from all over Italy and many of the secular and religious organizations and associations, unions, local authorities as well as politicians, raised Palestinian flags and peace flags in rainbow colors, in addition to union and Italian local authority’s flags, in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Leoluca Orlando, an Italian politician, said that “our participation in this march is another chance to say No to any form of military colonialism, let’s express out support, with the strength and accordance of the international legislation and with the recognition of a Palestinian state.”
Paolo Ferrero, member of the Communist Re-foundation Party, stressed on the importance of supporting the recognition of a Palestinian state in the UN. He said “I wanted to participate in this march raising the Palestinian flag as a symbol of support to the Palestinian UN bid.”
Former Vice President of the European Parliament Luisa Morantini, said 'we raised a lot of Palestinian flags to remind people participating in this march of the Palestinian people who suffer from bloody military occupation, which suppresses freedom, and which Palestinians fight through popular and non-violent struggle.”
Perugia-Assisi Peace March celebrates its 50th anniversary since its establishment before the Italian philosopher, Aldo Capitini, a leading Italian theorist of non-violence, known as the 'Italian Gandhi”, issued a statement at the end of the march stressing on launching a new call for peace and brotherhood among the peoples based on the first article of the universal declaration of human rights, which is built on principles of dignity and rights, pointing out that the biggest challenge is translating this call to action.
M.G. /F.R.
