A mural on the wall of the Shoah Memorial in Milan, Italy that depicts the Simpsons as Jews being deported to Auschwitz fell victim to antisemitic vandalism.
By Rachel Avraham
A mural on the external wall of the Shoah Memorial in Milan, Italy, that depicts the Simpsons family as Jews being deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp was recently defaced by antisemitic vandals, Algeimeiner reported. According to the report, the pop art mural “The Jewish Simpsons Deported to Auschwitz” was created by contemporary Italian pop artist and activist AleXsandro Palombo and was put up on Jan. 27, 2023, in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The unique Holocaust mural depicts Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson as Jews wearing outfits that feature a yellow Star of David badge with the word “Jude” in the center. Nazis forced Jews to wear a similar badge on their clothing during the Holocaust. Algeimeiner reported that Palombo’s team said the artist used contemporary figures such as the Simpsons to educate the public, especially younger generations, about the importance of remembrance and the duty to never forget the horrors of the Holocaust. “In a time when living survivors are becoming fewer, employing the universal language of cartoons is a key tool for educating young people and fostering a shared historical conscience,” Palombo stated in an exclusive interview with the Jerusalem Post.
According to Algeimeiner, antisemitic vandals almost completely ripped off the images of Marge, Lisa and Maggie Simpson from the mural and replaced them with a message written in red paint that said “Free Pal,” which is short for “Free Palestine.” Algeimeiner reported that the Star of David badge on Homer’s overcoat was also torn off and the Star of David badge worn by Bart was covered in red paint.
“Little remains of the iconic work: only a grave antisemitic defacement, which has transformed a tribute to memory into an expression of hatred,” Palombo’s media relations team proclaimed. “Today, [the] work has been brutally erased and turned into a disturbing political manifesto, steeped in antisemitism. This act is yet another stark reminder that antisemitic hatred is on the rise, even in places devoted to memory and reflection … At a time when antisemitism is surging globally, acts like this take on even greater gravity. This is not merely vandalism, but a deliberate attack on memory, culture, and the core values of human rights.”
Palombo told the Jerusalem Post that this is the sixth antisemitic attack on this artwork in just two years. When asked if he would restore the work, he told the Jerusalem Post that he believes “it should remain in its current state – marked by violence – because it visually represents the antisemitic fury spreading through our cities.”
“Leaving the artwork in this condition can serve as a warning, a public statement, a wake-up call for policymakers: It’s time to introduce stronger laws and implement concrete actions to combat antisemitism,” Palombo told the Jerusalem Post. Palombo also said he is considering donating these works to international museum institutions “so they can be protected and preserved as historical documents bearing witness to the brutality of our time.”
Despite repeated incidents of vandalism, as well as intimidation and death threats, Palombo told the Jerusalem Post he would continue his work “without backing down. These attacks on my art do not intimidate me; on the contrary, they reinforce my determination.”
Palombo told the Jerusalem Post that in recent months, he has received numerous threats from students involved in anti-Israel movements, even from the University of Milan: “There, I had created a piece in memory of the October 7 massacre carried out by Hamas. It depicted the desperate escape of Vlada Patapov at the Nova festival. The day after I received threatening messages from student groups, the mural was vandalized, and Vlada’s head [in the painting] was decapitated. I believe the Italian government, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in particular, should enact an emergency decree: students who commit such serious acts of hatred should be expelled.” Palombo told the Jerusalem Post that universities must be places of education, dialogue, and mutual respect – not breeding grounds for extremism.
Photo from News Plus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15JSl3I5bTE
