A fascist attack: and this time it's not a metaphor. As in the 1920s, a mob armed with belts and chains attacked participants in a political rally just days before the vote, further disrupting an already virulent election campaign, which now only needed beatings against opponents.
As if that weren't enough, the attackers were identified as members of Forza Nuova, an avowedly neo-fascist group running in the political elections, in defiance of the 12th transitional provision of the Constitution which prohibits the reorganization of the Fascist Party.
'The only change compared to the sad years of the rise of fascism is the fact that those attacked are largely gay militants, whose fight for freedom, civil rights, and full citizenship clearly conflicts with the authoritarian and liberticidal aims of all fascism.
Already in October of last year I wrote, on behalf of Arcigay, a letter to President Ciampi to denounce
""the deep alarm that the racist hate campaign unleashed against us in recent weeks is causing among Italian homosexuals.".
The President responded to us, through his Advisor for Legal Affairs and Constitutional Relations Salvatore Sechi, renewing his commitment to ensure that
""The need for the respect that all citizens owe to institutions to be matched by the protection of their fundamental rights, without any distinction, through rigorous observance by all of the laws and principles of equality and equal dignity."'
Today we are forced to renew our concerns about the creeping decline of democratic attention, which is leading state institutions and public opinion itself to submit with resignation and without the necessary indignation to increasingly widespread fascist resurgences. We cannot accept that political discourse is poisoned by the presence of a group whose name has long been present in every far-right attack.
We ask President Ciampi to intervene against the concrete and visible consequences of the climate we denounced months ago.
For our part, we will certainly not be intimidated by the strength of chains, which we will counter, as always, with the force of reason and law. We will not limit ourselves to solidarity with those attacked (including the President of the Pink Gay and Lesbian Club, Gianni Zardini, and Senate candidate Roberto Aere, a longtime gay activist), which is nonetheless strong and heartfelt.
We will take our response to the streets on June 9th, at the national demonstration in Verona "Citizenship must be written – a demonstration of resistance and remembrance for the defense of citizenship rights in a secular state." Our presence will demonstrate the need for a strong reaction against fascism and for the recognition of full citizenship for every person.
Sergio Lo Giudice
National President of Arcigay