We, the undersigned, call upon the authorities of León, the organizers of Holy Week celebrations, and the Spanish authorities to condemn and discontinue the public use of the expression “Matar Judíos” (“Kill the Jews”).

While some describe it as a historical tradition linked to the consumption of León's traditional lemonade drink, the literal meaning of the expression remains deeply offensive. Furthermore, recorded interviews with participants have shown that some individuals still make references to the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust and to Nazi crematoria.

These statements demonstrate that the issue is not merely a distant medieval legacy. They also show that the tradition can still serve as a vehicle for contemporary antisemitic expressions.

We therefore request:

An official condemnation of any antisemitic references associated with this tradition. 
The replacement of the expression “Matar Judíos” with a respectful name free from references to any religious or ethnic group. 
Educational initiatives highlighting the history of Jewish communities in Spain and the consequences of antisemitism. 
A clear commitment from local authorities against the normalization of hatred toward Jews. 
Cultural traditions deserve to be preserved when they promote respect and coexistence. They should evolve when they perpetuate stereotypes or expressions that may encourage intolerance.