Over 150 protesters arrived at the PGA tour in Boca Raton, Florida demanding the German insurance company Allianz pay $2.5 billion they say is owed to holocaust survivors for policies paid-up prior to the Second World War.

It’s the seventh year the South Florida Holocaust survivors have protested the PGA, an event Allianz sponsors, calling on the golf championship to drop the insurer.

This year marked a resurgent crowd for the annual protest that’s seen its numbers dwindle as its members become too old or sick to attend.

“With evidence showing half the survivors worldwide live in poverty and lack adequate medical care, this is just not right,” Janet Myles Schwartz, a volunteer coordinator said.

Legislation to guarantee survivors’ and families’ rights have been filed in the House of Representatives by Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, John Garamendi, and Brad Sherman, and Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio.

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“Allianz and other insurers continue to shame themselves, and must be required to honor all policies they sold to our families,” David Schaecter, president of the Holocaust Survivors Foundation USA said.

“We hope and pray that President Trump will hear us, and join with the broad, bi-partisan members of Congress to restore our rights, and ensure that all survivors and our families receive justice and dignity in our last years.”

Time is running out for many of the survivors, but their families and sympathetic volunteers are feeling optimistic about the cause.

“If the Allianz (PGA) contract is renewed, we’ll be able to double our numbers again next year,” it was explained. “There is fresh enthusiasm to contact elected officials, start petitions, and finally get this whole disgraceful situation resolved.”


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