Pitchfork protests marred by anti-Semitism

(By Christopher Livesay) (ANSA) – Rome, December 13 – Suspicions of a far right-wing agenda operating from within the anti-austerity ‘Pitchfork’ protests seemed to be confirmed Friday when a spokesman from the group said Italy was a “slave to bankers like the Rothschilds” and said that “five of the world’s six richest people are Jews”.

“It’s curious,” added Andrea Zunino in an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica printed Friday. “It’s something I need to figure out”. His remarks were met with sharp rebuke from Italy’s Jewish communities, as well as one leader from his own movement. “Such words recall those…that in the history of our continent have brought about the deaths of millions of citizens,” said Riccardo Pacifici, president of Rome’s Jewish community. Pitchfork leader Mariano Ferro denounced the comments, adding the group should not stand behind “the mentally ill”. In his interview, Zunino also praised Beppe Grillo, head of Italy’s anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, and Hungarian Premier Viktor Orb