From Prato della Valle, the heartfelt appeal of the founder of Libera, who urges new generations not to bow their heads in the face of organised crime. “The real enemies are the Mafias, not migrants”.
It has become, despite itself, a symbol: Prato della Valle, especially today, having hosted the fifty thousand who took part in the 24th Day of Memory and Commitment, which commemorates all the innocent victims of the Mafias, organised by the association Libera. Indeed, following the dozens of arrests across the region recorded in recent weeks, what had long been known was brought to light: the Mafia has roots everywhere in Italy. But it is precisely to uproot this pervasive presence that Padua was peacefully invaded by a wave of young people, students, scouts, families and adults. All united by a single demand: that of social justice.
After the fifty thousand arrived in Prato della Valle, led by the relatives of Mafia victims, the most solemn moment of the entire day begins: the reading of over a thousand names. Innocent victims of the Mafias. Among them citizens, magistrates, journalists, members of the security forces, priests, entrepreneurs, trade unionists, political figures and local administrators killed at the hands of the Mafias simply because, with rigour, they carried out their duty. Drawing applause from the silent crowd were the names of Peppino Impastato, General Dalla Chiesa, Paolo Borsellino, Giovanni Falcone and Ilaria Alpi, read in the emotion-choked voice of Daniela Congiusta, widow of Mario Congiusta, killed last August, and of her son Gianluca, also killed in 2005.
"We must nurture new generations. I dedicate my speech to them, to young people. They have drive, but we must open up spaces and opportunities for them," says Don Ciotti, the founder of Libera, to LifeGate. "A country that has 2 million young people out of work must think above all about solving this enormous problem, because the fight against the Mafia means work, it means culture, it means education. We have been talking about the Mafia for 163 years and we must not forget the good things that have happened and the many victims. But today we must do something more." This is indeed what Don Ciotti calls for from the stage during his lengthy address. A leap forward, a cultural shift.
"There are wonderful people in Veneto," he stresses, referring to the recent news events. "Criminal situations of corruption must not be allowed to erase the beauty of this land. We must react and we must send a message." Such as the one Libera has been sending in recent years: "There are two most important elements we are living through today: the revolution of women, who are breaking the Mafia from within. And that of young people, like those 40 who are here with us today. They are young people who have made mistakes, but who need to be given the chance to discover another way of life — not the Mafia family, but a community that welcomes them."
Don Ciotti touches on many themes from the stage, lit by the first sunshine of spring. From migrants to the environment. "I say no to the repressive management of migrants and to the attack on human rights. Migrants are victims who are portrayed as enemies, but the enemies are others — they are the Mafias, corruption, loan-sharking, the lack of work." The founder of Libera calls for a cultural shift, including towards the environment and society. "Young people, rebel. The future asks us to go out and meet it; we need a new Humanism in pursuit of an integral ecology. And to stop thinking of the environment and society as separate dimensions. Caring for Nature and working for the dignity of people are one and the same thing." Don Ciotti's address in Padua was a powerful one, which likely struck a chord with many of those present today in that most colourful of squares.