Let’s continue talking about Sara and Sandro
The deaths of Sara Ardizzone and Alessandro Mercogliano on the night of 19–20 March in Rome, following the explosion and collapse of an abandoned cottage in the Parco degli Acquedotti area, have created an open wound that is not intended to heal. For the most part, the spontaneous reaction of the anarchist movement in Italy and around the world has been dignified and coherent with the life paths of two revolutionaries who died fighting. However, a genuine moment of reflection has been lacking so far. We do not regret this, but rather believe that the extended timeframe is necessary given the nature of this event. These are inevitably long, grief-filled days, but they are also days spent coming to a concrete understanding of the facts.
We do not believe that we should take a stance of specific struggle towards this tragedy, with all the urgency, contingencies and anxiety that such a struggle imposes, in order to do something “practical”. Of course, this kind of event has also been accompanied by moments of struggle: attempts to sabotage participation in funerals using every petty stratagem; the preventive custody of 91 anarchists who were trying to lay flowers near the accident site on the morning of 29 March, the media smear campaign against the Easter Monday gathering in Valnerina to commemorate Sara. These all became moments of struggle precisely because of the attitude of the state and its servants stationed at various battlefronts (in police headquarters and newsrooms, in ministries and courts), an attitude aimed at casting a blanket of silence and moral ostracism over our comrades. Above all, consider the political justification by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for the preventive custody of the 91 anarchists, the first ever application of this measure introduced from the government in the latest “Pacchetto Sicurezza” (Security Act).
Beyond these episodes of struggle, which were all the more necessary given the paramount importance of rejecting the state’s monition aimed at socially and morally isolating our two fallen comrades, we do not view the question of Sara and Sandro’s memory as subordinate to the urgent demands of a specific claim. Rather, we view it as a legacy and heritage to be preserved over the years and decades by carrying it into every specific struggle.
We believe that, a few months after this event, an initial global discussion about the facts could be organised. A discussion that would allow time for reflection on at least three major topics.
First, the technical aspect. A deadline for submitting autopsy results should be set within two months, and reports from cops and prosecutors on how they believe the events unfolded should start being filed. Saying that we have no confidence in the work of the repression professionals would be an understatement, as our attitude towards them is one of open hostility. Nevertheless, given the current circumstances, with the state holding a monopoly on science, research and physical access to the bodies and the explosion site, the findings of these unwelcome investigations assume the status of “objective” material. It will therefore be important to deconstruct this material, seeking to understand if there is something that doesn’t add up, something to denounce, something on which to base counter-information and a counter-investigation.
Secondly, we would like to initiate an ethico-political discussion about this case. A discussion that, truth be told, began immediately after the events, thanks to the many statements proudly claiming brotherhood and solidarity with Sara and Sandro, which were made in improvised assemblies just hours after news of their deaths spread and continued at demonstrations, in interventions near cemeteries and inside holding cells at Rome police headquarters. However, whether due to being overshadowed by the virtual sphere, scattered across various initiatives or, above all, the entirely natural lack of mental clarity following a tragedy that had shaken our thoughts for weeks, there was a lack of horizontal, global discussion convened with sufficient advance notice for comrades to organise their attendance and bring matured arguments.
Lastly, we would like to discuss the practical and organisational matters that need to be addressed to ensure that Sara and Sandro’s memory is kept alive in our path forward. From public demonstrations to publishing initiatives, from dedicating spaces in their names to our stance in legal proceedings where these comrades were and are our co-defendants, and any other issues that might come up during the discussion.
TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT SARA AND SANDRO. SO THAT NOTHING WILL HAVE BEEN IN VAIN. BECAUSE THAT TORCH IS STILL BURNING.
LET’S MEET ON SUNDAY 5 JULY AT 10.30AM AT CIRCOLO ANARCHICO “LA FAGLIA”, LOCATED AT 23 VIA MONTE BIANCO IN FOLIGNO. IN CASE OF EXTREME HEAT OR IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPACE, WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEARBY PUBLIC GARDENS.
Continue reading “Foligno, Italy: Let’s continue talking about Sara and Sandro EN/IT”
