Rosarno, May 1, 2010.
After 4 years, the national demonstration organized by trade unions on the occasion of Labor Day, back in Calabria. In 2006, the CGIL, CISL and UIL chose Locri, in response to the murder of Franco Fortugno, vice president at the time Regional Council of Calabria, in October last year.
Rosarno year, became the symbol of the exploitation of immigrant and black labor, was chosen, rather than celebrate, to bring attention to the plight and living in Calabria (Southern Italy and all) on employment both on the situation faced by thousands of non-EU in the plain of Gioia Tauro, the protagonists in January of an actual slave revolt.
In thousands (15 thousand according to the trade union organization, but we seemed a little bit less) have come from all over the region. They came Early in the morning, most on board a bus arranged, and found themselves ahead of former Rognetta, right up to the beginning of the year where they found shelter hundreds of immigrants, most of them with residence permit, who were providing their labor for harvesting oranges in exchange for a few Euros a day, about twenty. A miserable pay for more than 12 hours of work, on which they were ready to do its part the crest asking ruthless gang masters, now jailed. Labor, law and solidarity with the themes selected, not surprisingly, for the event.
The procession passed through the town square to the flat Valarioti. Flags, banners, signs, children, seniors and even some children have walked the same streets where almost four months ago was vented the anger of the exploited.
There are trade unions, associations, politicians, and ordinary citizens, many immigrants. There are temporary government, there are the young unemployed, there are retirees.
Few rosarnesi. This time do not fall to demonstrate. They prefer to remain spectators of an event that brings them back again the national spotlight. Someone is there but does not even get to see and hides when he sees us coming.
parade waving the colors of the trade unions, old songs are sung to party, raise the banners of the municipalities present. There is also room for a bit 'with the giants of folklore dancing and the band playing.
On a terrace near the Square booth with volunteers of Freedom have sold the fennel with the law, those collected in recent days in Isola di Capo Rizzuto on land confiscated from the Arena.
A square Valarioti protesters are welcomed innate di Mameli. But when the crowd comes alive to speak are the national secretaries of the three largest unions Italian: Epigani, Bonanni, Angeletti. CGIL, CISL and UIL have united and are asking the government to plan seriously for employment. But there is also room for self-criticism because many people ask: before the revolt Rosarno unions where they were?
A talk from the stage is also a Moroccan girl. Tell us about your experience of integration. Arabic language teacher is 27 years old, lives in Reggio Calabria and talk about different reception. She was luckier than thousands of his countrymen forced into slavery.
Many of the immigrants present in the square, complete with a hat and flag of the trade unions, do not want to talk. Some say even not knowing Italian, others fade away at the sight of the camera. Only at the end someone will stop to chat with us.
A demonstration ended after the concert held in the afternoon, everyone returned to their homes. Even in Rosario's life is taken like every day. Such as before. And just around the corner, seems to hide the shadow of the past. Despite the message of hope that a day like this wanted to send.
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