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January 29, 2020

Life senator Liliana Segre arrived a short time ago at the European Parliament building in Brussels, where she was received by President David Sassoli. He wrote a dedication in the book reserved for the guests of the institution: "What a thrill! I exist, and also the European Parliament". "This was not someone's plan," said the senator, before an interview with Sassoli in view of the mini-plenary during which she spoke to MEPs.

"Still today someone denies the Holocaust. But it is impossible to forget the evil of others"
"Even today someone does not want to look and even now someone says it is not true," said Segre, speaking of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp. The senator, who survived the concentration camp, recalled in the words of Primo Levi "the amazement for the evil of others", that "no one who was a prisoner" in the camp "could never forget".

"Anti-Semitism is inherent in the poor in spirit"
"We still hear the word race and that's why we have to fight this structural racism, which is still there," he continued, "people ask me why we are talking about anti-Semitism, racism, but why it has always been there and why they are inherent in the minds of the poor in spirit ".

"In politics there are those who take advantage of it"
There is always "a political moment" to be able to bring out "the racism and anti-Semitism that are inherent in the soul of the poor in spirit. The most suitable moments come when we turn to the other side, where there is more easy to pretend nothing is happening, just looking at your own courtyard and saying 'it's something that doesn't concern me' ". Then there are some who "take advantage of this situation and find the right ground to come forward," he explained.

Applause for the speech, then a minute of silence
A long applause from the European Parliament greeted Liliana Segre's speech. The Eurocamera then observed a minute's silence at the request of President David Sassoli. The European Parliament was very excited during Segre's speech, according to the images released by the video circuit.

Sassoli: Nazism and racism are not opinions, but crimes
"Nazism and racism are not opinions but crimes. Join us as we bow to all the victims of the Holocaust and assume our duty to remember. It is an honor and a gift to have the senator and survivor of Auschwitz Liliana among us. Segre who brings us his testimony ". Parliament President David Sassoli writes it on Twitter.