We had responsibly accepted the City of Milan's response to the request to end the June 23rd national Pride parade in Piazza Duomo: the square, we were told, would only be used for institutional events. Now comes news that Alleanza Nazionale will be holding its own demonstration in Piazza Duomo.
At this point the measure is full: after the insult of the patronage denied by Mayor Albertini, comes the slap in the face from the mayor: yes to the post-fascists of AN, no to the great march for civil rights that last year in Rome saw two hundred thousand people march in defense of everyone's freedoms.
If this is the style Albertini intends to give to the government of the city of Milan, we will not stand by and watch our constitutional rights be trampled upon.
On June 23, a river of people, coming from all over Italy on special trains and dozens of buses, will march peacefully and festively to Piazza Duomo, with or without authorization from the Municipality.
Faced with the arrogance of a government that treats citizens' rights with antidemocratic discretion, the response of those who care about people's true freedom will be peaceful and nonviolent, but determined.
Albertini takes on a responsibility unparalleled in Italy. In other cities where national Gay Pride parades have been held in recent years, mayors Vitali, Bassolino, Cacciari, and Rutelli himself in 1994, took to the streets to salute a democratic and libertarian movement.
The mayor of Milan, on the other hand, has chosen to disregard citizens' rights: we are certain that on that day many Milanese citizens will wish to join their indignation with ours, and join us in celebrating freedom and calling for an end to all discrimination.
Sergio Lo Giudice
National President of Arcigay