Many for the commemoration of April 25th in Varese. A long and substantial procession paraded through the streets of the city to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the liberation of Italy from Nazi occupation and fascism. A celebration that started from Piazza San Vittore, after the mass in memory of those fallen for freedom, and which ended at Palazzo Estense in a hall that was unable to contain all the citizens present.
«Next year we will look for a larger space», said the mayor Davide Galimberti, underlining the importance of seeing so much participation: «It is sad to see this area represented in the media for isolated episodes that do not represent the majority of the province and of this territory. It is important and beautiful that the response was what we saw and of which you all are protagonists, with a democratic reaction.” The President of the Region Attilio Fontana underlined: «It is a celebration for everyone, which must unite, not divide».
Speeches by the authorities present were held in the citizens’ house and the commitment that Varese has shown throughout history and still shows today to honor the values of the Constitution, born from the Resistance, was underlined several times.
Speeches that recalled the historical importance of this day, yesterday and today. «In these streets, 79 years ago, in the streets and squares throughout the country there were people celebrating, happy to have defeated abuse, violence, the denial of rights and those images are part of our history – continued Davide Galimberti -. Those values that emerged from the partisan struggle and from those dramatic moments where several families, including from this area, contributed their lives to affirm the democratic principles contained in our Constitution and it is important that in recent years there has always been a democratic response like there is today around the country, even in this place and in this province. As happens here today.”
The procession was a moment of celebration and sharing, but also of emotion and remembrance with the laying of laurel wreaths, placed at the beginning of Corso Matteotti, in the year in which we celebrate 100 years since the assassination of the anti-fascist politician kidnapped and murdered on 10 June 1924 by fascists. The first was under the tombstones of the fallen inside the Arco Mera while the third was at the Largo Monument of the Resistance. A composed but not silent procession, accompanied by symbolic songs from the Resistance, opened by the band, then by representatives of the Anpi sections of Varese, by the Civil Protection and by the authorities.
The speeches at the Salone Estense were opened by Rocco Cordì, president of Anpi Varese section with a firm condemnation: «I express our opinion firmer condemnation for the umpteenth provocations carried out by a small Nazi-fascist group who with his gloomy performances tarnishes and distorts the name of Varese and its province. These are real provocations that are amplified out of all proportion by a media system in which special effects often count more than the reality of the facts. Talking about black Varese as if we lived in a city and a province gripped by the delusions of Nazi-fascism is truly inconceivable and it only risks fueling tensions and conflicts that sooner or later can degenerate. Therefore once again we make our appeal to the Judiciary to ensure that these groups are put in a position not to cause harm, rigorously applying the existing laws and the constitutional rule which prohibits the reconstitution of the fascist party in any form”.
In procession and then at the speakers’ table the president of the Region Attilio Fontanathe prefect Salvatore Rosario Pasquariellothe president of the Province Marco Magrinithe president of the Anpi Varese section Rocco Cordìthe mayor of Varese Davide Galimbertithe Councilor for Culture of Varese Enzo Laforgia. Present in the parade were the undersecretary of the presidency Raffaele Cattaneo, the senator of the Democratic Party Alessandro Alfieri and the deputy of Italia Viva Maria Chiara Gadda, the superintendent of studies Giuseppe Carcano and Daniele Marantelli of the Varese Democratic Party. And also the representatives of all the armed forces and the banners of numerous city associations.
The governor Fontana he used the words of Luciano Violante to open his speech, underlining how this celebration must be a celebration for all the Italian people: «The first step in the rebirth of our country which is recognized in the values of the Constitution, values acquired by our population. This does not mean that these values must be renewed and repeated to ensure that they do not lose their intensity and value. It is important for everyone to continue to remember those who contributed to giving us freedom and those who dedicated their lives to building a democratic state like ours. Our task now is to conclude that journey by remembering precisely those values.”
The president of the Province Marco Magrini instead he turned his gaze towards young people and the future, underlining the confusion of the new generations with respect to institutions and politics but with whom a discussion must be opened: «Today we see fewer and fewer young people at these parties, as well as in the administrative life of our country . We can feel their disaffection towards the institutions, let’s look for them and entrust them with tasks by opening ourselves to dialogue. Let’s give them the strong motivations that would lead them to defend our country today.” Just as young and old did on April 25, 1945. To conclude the councilor’s speech Enzo Laforgia who recalled the figure of Giacomo Matteotti and the intervention of Alice Toschi.
