Reggio Calabria. Saturday marks the third day of the anti-homophobia campaign.

«"Wounded but alive." And determined not to surrender to the logic of criminal violence. After the fire that destroyed their headquarters on Monday night, the young people of the "Angelina Cartella" social center want to take their commitment to the next level. Their words leave no doubt about their intention to start over from the rubble, though the initial disorientation was intense: "The news that the structure, which for ten years had seen us discuss, work, create, sing, play, and grow, was literally going up in smoke was a punch in the stomach, a tremendous blow. But soon the sense of disorientation and confusion was swept away by the incredible outpouring of solidarity that overwhelmed us: from the neighborhood, from the city, from all over Italy, there was a constant outcry, asking, and offering of hands, resources, and money. An embrace so warm that it immediately restored our strength, our will, and our fighting spirit. A solidarity so diverse and sincere that it was more legitimizing for us than any official document, born of the recognition of the work done over these years.".
So, let's move forward: "'Rebuild the Cartella, more beautiful and bigger than before,' we said during a well-attended meeting held Tuesday afternoon near those still-smoking ruins. We will rebuild it, as we always have, with the help of all those who are at our side, all those who, from the Susa Valley to Palermo, from Friuli to Puglia, are telling us they are ready to support us in any way they can. We will rebuild it because we have no intention of surrendering to those who, with this cowardly act, think they can end our experience, and above all, divert our political commitment.".
As for the cause of the attack, the young people explain it this way: "If the hand is easily identified with the fascist and mafia underworld, unfortunately always numerous in this city, we should identify the mastermind in the much-hyped gray area, with all those business and interest groups who consider this area a huge speculation, and the public coffers private ATMs. They would like all our efforts to be channeled into defending public spaces, ideological conflict, and anti-fascism, without worrying about the privatization of public services, the sell-off of the land for speculative purposes, or the dire economic and, above all, social crisis our city is experiencing. If this is their goal, they've made a grave mistake! The Cartella was wounded, yes, but he's alive and well.".
The plan is already underway: "We are assessing the conditions for a demonstration against any attempt to shut down this experience, in defense of social spaces, to be held on Saturday, May 26th. We are examining, together with our technicians and lawyers, ways to begin reconstruction of the severely damaged structure as soon as possible, which will be supported by the launch of a national solidarity campaign. In the meantime, we confirm all the initiatives already planned, and we invite everyone to Saturday, May 19th, for the closing of the three days against homophobia that ArciGay and the other promoters have decided to hold at Cartella, with proceeds going to the solidarity fund for reconstruction." (Pitos)