Chronicles of ordinary racism 2011 - Cronache di ordinario razzismo

16 March 2011 Tivoli (RM), Lazio
In the space of two days almost 300 people – Romanians, Bulgarians and Roma –
camped around the decommissioned Stacchini factory, are evicted with no prior
warning. Those evicted include women and about 30 children, many of whom attend
school in the area. The people evicted say there were ‘advised’ to go far away and not
show their faces in the area again. The blitz comes out of the blue. The police turn up
with bulldozers. Empty sheds are marked with spray paint for immediate demolition.
The occupants of the other sheds are shaken out of their sleep and given an ultimatum:
anyone with children has two days to leave; the others just four hours. ‘They shooed
them away like flies,’ says former mayoral candidate Gianni Innocenzi, ‘and failed to
listen to our proposal, ie that each town in the area should adopt at least two families.’
Source: L’Unità
24 March 2011 Grosseto (GR), Tuscany
Three friends – aged 35, 26 and about 70 years – are waiting for a bus. When the bus
arrives, the older man is allowed to board but the other two are not: unaware that the
older man is a friend of the other two, the driver of the Riemme‐Rama bus says ‘get in
quickly so I can close the doors and keep those two gypsies out.’ Something similar
occurs the next day as well. Christian and Giuseppe are waiting at the same stop,
without their older friend. As the bus approaches they signal to the driver but,
recognising them, she fails to stop. One of the men, Christian Turri, lodges a complaint
with the bus company. He receives a reply which informs him ‘we have summoned the
driver in question and she denies having prevented anyone boarding the bus,’ after
which the man decides to report this to the police. ‘Though ethnicity is, clearly, not a
valid reason for behaviour of this sort,’ Christian states, ‘neither I nor my friend are
Roma.’ After their initial denial, the bus company changes its tune: ‘The driver has
confirmed that this episode took place,’ the chairman of Rama explains, ‘and she has
received a written warning. Should she repeat this kind of conduct, further action will
be taken.’ Source: Il Tirreno
29 March 2011 Manduria (TA), Puglia
In the towns of Manduria and Oria, which are both located very few kilometres from
the CAI (Centro di accoglienza e identificazione: reception and idenfication centre)
where some of the Tunisians who have arrived on the island of Lampedusa have been
taken, citizens’ vigilante groups have been set up, and have requested ‘permission to
shoot’ any immigrants who manage to flee the centre. There is already a vigilante group
right outside the CAI: a band of ten or so youths aged between 16 and 18 years old, led
by a 40‐year‐old who gives orders and points out which Tunisians should be stopped.
Source: L’Unità
29 March 2011 Rome (RM), Lazio
Questioned by journalists, Northern League leader Umberto Bossi whistles, makes a
clear ‘they’ve got to go’ hand gesture and says, in Lombard dialect, ‘immigrati fora da i
ball’ (immigrants, get the hell out). Asked about the possibility of finding places to
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