Dax Association: March 2003 – March 2016: Those who fight never die

March 2003 – March 2016: Those who fight never die

We dedicate this thirteenth anniversary to Renato Biagetti, killed on the 27^th of August of 2006 in Focene. Little more than three years had passed since the fascist murder of Dax and the clashes at the San Paolo hospital, the O.R.So [social centre in Via Gola, Milan] hadn’t yet been cleared out. The news that the murdering hand of the fascists had struck again hit us like a slap. Another boy dead, another family in turmoil, more brothers and sisters overwhelmed with pain. We attend as one the funerals and group actions, bringing our human and political solidarity. In those days we strengthened the ties of fraternity and, today as yesterday, the memory of Dax is united with that of Renato. Ten years ago we used these words:

“Dax was a militant antifascist and, together with other comrades, was recognised as such and therefore targeted. Renato, however was not a political activist, he only found himself “in the wrong place”, in his place could have been any of the participants at that party. The assassins of Renato, attacked in a group identified as “ticks” , and therefore enemies. (…) On the 16^th of March 2003, our crisis seemed to be an isolated incident, a sudden return to the “Years of Lead” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_Lead_(Italy)]. The assassination of Renato, however, appeared more like the product of the escalation of hit-squad violence that the nazifascist right has been allowed to fuel to flames, stabbings and aggression towards comrades, migrants, social centres and political seats, (…). We gather around the family, friends and comrades of Renato, our commitment and our determination to mobilise and to respond so that no one will again find themselves forced to mourn a friend, a brother, a compagno, torn from life.”

Unfortunately, after Renato there were other deaths, like that of Nicola Tommasoli or Abba, killed by fascism and by racism. Among the most recent episodes of intimidation or aggression we remember the beating of Emilio in Cremona little more than a year ago and the terrible incidents in Naples. It was alarming the news that on the 22^nd of February a group of Lealtà Azione Hammerskins harassed and threated students around Milan State University. Here, like in all Europe, we witness a growth of spaces accommodating the radical right, which penetrates into new territories and institutions, and to the difficulty in containing this expansion by parts of the antifascist movements.

In this sense we take note that also this year, like three years ago in these parts, in the days of the memorials of Dax, of Fausto and of Laio, Milan will again be flooded with fascist scum. On March the 16^th 2016 a public meeting was announced between Salvini’s Lega and Le Pen’s Front National, with the attendance of Marine’s niece, Marion Marechal Le Pen. Last year, as always in these days, Roberto Fiore [Founded Forza Nuova, identified as a Fascist] was elected to Regional Government, while the year before we had an initiative from Casa Pound with Golden Dawn in Milan, and Lealtà Azione and Forza Nuova in Monza. A repeated provocation to which we cannot be indifferent and to which we must find an appropriate response.

As Dax Association we note these circumstances, trying at the very least to provoke reflection and awareness. We continue to build a programme of actions and initiatives, born thanks to expanded efforts that provide benefit evenings, debates and the march on the 16^th that will cross the streets of Ticcinese [area of Milan where Dax was killed], hitting various points of memorial, from the monument to Roberto Franceschi [a young student killed by the pigs in Milan in 1952] to the partisan memorial plaques disseminated throughout the zone, arriving at via Gola. During the march, space will be made for speeches on ongoing issues: the fight for housing, workers’ rights, the Kurdish question, repression and prison, State killings and antiracism. In attendance will be comrades of Renato, his mother, Stefania Zuccari, the Fausto and Laio Association, and Saverio Ferrari.

During these actions we will have the chance to meet with antifascists from England and Greece who will be speaking about the situation in these countries, the level of presence in nazifascist organisations, the mobilisation of the antifascist movement and repression from the State.

The benefit evenings will be one for Marina, a comrade serving a sentence for damage and looting during the events of the G8 in Genova, another for the ‘130 thousand’ campaign [the campaign against the state resolution after dax trials for san paolo riots that decided that sime comrades have to give 130 thousands euros to the state]. From 2011 to today 20,000 euros have been raised, collected directly from the stipend of the condemned comrade. Money destined for the Ministry of the Interior which must retrieve another 40,000 euros, will follow those designated for State lawyers and the individual injured agents.

Thanks to the active solidarity arriving from all of Italy and beyond, this comrade has met payments on time. We thank all those who mobilised themselves to forward the 130mila campaign and who, today as yesterday, have never forgotten and have never left us.

We thank everyone who has participated in the organising of this year’s initiatives, bringing their contribution and nurturing the work of remembering.

We relaunch the desire to participate collectively in the 10^th anniversary of Renato Biagetti, organising one or more coaches to Rome in the days of remembrance.

With Dax and Renato in our hearts,

Dax Association, 16^th March 2003

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