The fascist plague in Palermo

italy / switzerland | anti-fascism | press release

Wednesday June 08, 2005 18:32

by FdCA Palermo Branch - Federazione dei Comunisti Anarchici

internazionale at fdca dot it

Joint statement by FAS-FdCA-FAI on the fascist attack in Palermo (Sicily) on 3rd June

The fascist attack that took place on Friday evening in Palermo in a packed Via Candelai against 2 young men of African origin must not be undervalued in any way.

THE PLAGUE

The fascist attack that took place on Friday evening in Palermo in a packed Via Candelai against 2 young men of African origin must not be undervalued in any way.

When 20 heavily-armed fascists decide to invade a busy street full of people to carry out a punishment attack, it means that these "squadristi" are not afraid of anything and feel they can count on being able to act freely.

There may be some who are shocked to see something like this happening in Palermo, the city of a thousand colours, which a certain type of hypocritical rhetoric depicts as a melting pot where tolerance and a centuries-long tradition of welcome are guarantees for beling able to live in peace and solidarity.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Palermo, apart from being a city which has become violent, fierce, is also a city where prejudice against anything different goes hand in hand with intollerance for anyone who arrives there from the poor South of the world in the hopes of finding here in southern italy, a better way of life.

But there is another Palermo. One where the secular, anti-racist and internationalist movement has in recent years been working for social and political emancipation. And though this work has been important, it has not been able to immunize the social fabric of this city from the virus of intolerance and xenophobia.

And it is in these cracks where the dregs of the powers-that-be are able to find ways to express their misery with the violence and arrogance that typifies them.

It is significant that while violent gangs roam the streets and swastikas appear in the Giardino Inglese park and the Matteotti neighbourhood on the occasion of Liberation Day on 25th April, Palermo's Police Chief is more concerned with imposing law and order by persecuting immigrants and clearing out Roma camps.

"Get out of here!", the fascists shouted while they were beating up the immigrants.

"Get out of here!", shout the institutions with their laws, borders, regulations, statements and sanctions against immigrants.

This brown plague must be answered with our usual resolve, making renewed efforts to spread anti-racism and anti-fascism as much as possible among the people. It is the best way to express our deepest disgust at this nazi-fascist squadrismo and at the guard dogs of the Powers.