RSM demonstrations against mafia
Since 1996, in Italy the 21st of March marks the Day of Memory and Commitment to commemorate all victims of mafias (Giornata della Memoria e dell’Impegno in ricordo delle vittime innocenti delle mafie). This day is organised by Libera – an Italian association that promotes outreach activities and various types of protest action against mafia – and it gathers anti-mafia movements from all over the country.
During this day, Rete degli Studenti Medi (RSM) joined many events all around the country, showing how education and student activism should play a key role in raising awareness on this important topic and helping to build a real anti-mafia consciousness in the whole society.
Together with many other organisations, on the 21st of March we commemorated more than 900 victims of mafias’ violence. Even though nowadays mafias’ actions are perhaps less present in the public debate comparing to the past decades, the Italian organised crime is still powerful and dangerous all over Italy.
The action of mafia is silent, but it influences a big part of the Italian political and economic system. Corruption and absence of sufficient welfare system, together with the longest economic crisis ever, are leading to a pauperisation of part of the population, with the result of leaving the poorest areas of our country in the hands of mafia.
Schools are really affected by this process, because the high costs of education and the absence of growth opportunities encourage low income families to consider their children’s education as waste of time, stimulating early school leaving. The presence in the labour market of many young people without certified skills can lead to a dangerous competition between young workers with low wages and illegal jobs. These young workers have no instruments to defend their rights, and their opportunities of choice are really fewer than in other parts of Europe.
In the most vulnerable areas of Italian cities and towns, being involved in crime organisations, especially related with drug and other profitable activities, can be the easiest way to “survive”. This is the reason why for RSM it is really relevant to fight social exclusion, making access to education easier for all, and advocate for honest and quality jobs with adequate wages.
The 21st of March is a really symbolic day for the anti-mafia movement. In 2017 it has even a stronger meaning, because the Italian Parliament decided to recognise it as an official national celebration!
The place of this year national rally was the town of Locri. Locri is in the heart of Calabria (South of Italy), the birthplace of N’drangheta. N’drangheta is considered as the most powerful and rich of the Italian mafias, with the control of the drug trade and links all around the world. Rete degli Studenti Medi and UdU (Italian university student union) were present there and in other regional demonstrations, to show that students are fighting for a fairer society without the oppression of any kind of mafias!
Written by Giuseppe Lipari, RSM International Officer
