Busto Arsizio schools are joined against Mafia

“We would like that Busto Arsizio becomes the capital of the Antimafia in the north of Italy”. With these words Massimo Brumone, Lombardy organiser of the association Amazzateci tutti (Kill Us All), presents the project “Legalitàlia in primavera” a demonstration without precedents in Lombardy, that on Monday 11^th of April will involve the six high schools of the city, more than 3500 students and 9 city locations in a meeting against mafia and racketeering. On the go since December with the collaboration of student delegates from Tosi science high school, Canadiani art school of ITC Tosi and Crespi high schools (classical, linguistic and human science) with afterwards joining to the project also IPC Verri and Facchinetti ITIS and it has been given the trademark Legalitàlia just like the big meeting that Ammazzateci Tutti (Kill us All) organises every year in Reggio Calabria, since 2007, in memory of the judge Antonio Scopelliti. “Last year we decided to use this name also for other initiatives outside of Calabria, and we will hope that after Monday it can be exported also elsewhere”.

On Monday morning, from 8.30, students of the involved schools will be grouped by age: the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th classes from the high schools are going to take part in two different moments of discussion with the involvement of guests from the world of information, politics and association, while the first and second class will assist in the screening of the film on the topic of the racketeering (Gomorra and the One Hundred Steps) which from 11 onwards will leave space to a debate. Among the anticipated guests there are the journalists Peter Gomez, Cesare Giuzzi and Pino Maniaci but also the judge Giuseppe Gennari and the local political representatives Maurizio Carbonera and Tiziano Garbo from Buccinasco and Desio cities where the criminal phenomenon is widely diffused. It is scheduled also an intervention of the mayor Gigi Farioli.

All this in nine different places spread out in the city, from ITc Tosi to Molini Marzoli passing through the cinema, theatre and auditorium. After having finished the debates around 12.30 the students will depart on foot from all of the localtions to create a demonstration which will expand and it will pass through the centre of the city reaching the park of the Textile Museum: here, from 13.30 it will focus on the intervention of some more representatives speakers, from the ex-mayor of Gela Rosario Crocetta to Rosanna Scopelliti, doughtier of judge Antonino, to Aldo Pecora, President of Kill us All. In the Park there will be also the stands of the principal businesses of Busto: ”we want that the demonstration is not self concluding” Brugnone said “but that it becomes the starting point for the social engagement of Busto people, not necessarily on the topic of criminality.” The parade and demonstration will be opened of course to the public taken part and all citizens.

The head staff of the schools involved have taken part in the presentation: Andrea Monteduro for secondary school specialising in an artistic education, Cristina Boracchi for Crispi secondary school, Giulio Ramolini for secondary school specialising in science education and Massimo Tosi as ITC vice principal. “It is an event that doesn’t aim to create an audience”  Monteduro says “but to take care of a problem that we have in first person. The mafia is not far away from here but it is in our houses. The fact that this problem is faced by the youth directly and the adults will join with them, is a message of a devastating power, a way to say No against the conspiracy of silence and collusion. So we hope that the demonstration is a salute and a sign of solidarity for all people come from the south of Italy who live in Busto and who have always worked honestly and observed the law: it’s a difficult period for them. ”This initiative is the demonstration that schools can work with the reality that is outside and cooperate with citizens on the basis of shared values. The youth are finding a strong tune on cultural plane and this cannot be other than a good thing.”

The “Legalitàlia in primavera“ received the Patronage of the Varese Province, of the association of Varese schools (which includes more than 100 schools in the province) of the Provincial Education Office and the town councils of Busto Arsizio, Castellanza, Fagnano Olona, Gorla Maggiore and Olgiate Olona