«We want to echo the words of Antonio Scurati, intellectual writer and citizen censored in his freedom of expression. “Until that word anti-fascism – writes Scurati – is not pronounced by those who govern us, the specter of fascism will continue to haunt the house of Italian democracy”. Antonio Decaro quotes Antonio Scurati: this is how the April 25th in Bariwith the words of the mayor who from the traditional event held every year to Shrine of the Fallen Overseas of Japigia. Decaro, at his last commemoration as mayor for the day of Italy’s liberation from the Nazi-fascist occupation, read Scurati’s words which for days have anticipated the arrival of this holiday so deeply felt in the national political debate. Then the Anci president added: «As long as we are free citizens to meet together in the celebrations of April 25th, we will continue to testify to our commitment to guarantee everyone, always and everywhere, the full right to freely express their thoughts through speech, writing and every other means of dissemination”.
«Proud to celebrate the Liberation in my city»
During the speech, the mayor then wanted to underline the importance of the celebrations that will affect the city throughout the day. «I am proud to be here once again today to represent my city Bari on the day in which we celebrate the Liberation of Italy – Decaro began – For me to be here it is not an act of mere representation. But an exercise in civil, political and institutional testimony on the day in which Italy remembers the people’s struggle against the dictatorship and Nazi-fascist occupation of the country.” And he concludes: «A ferocious, bloody, anti-democratic and liberticidal occupation. An occupation against which Italy rebelled and fought to the extreme sacrifice of its daughters and sons who from north to south in prisons in small villages and large cities along the coasts and on mountain paths died sighing for a one word freedom. This is April 25, the day of liberated Italy, the day of anti-fascist Italy.”
The procession through the city of Bari and the “partisan concert”
The celebrations will continue. The procession is scheduled for 6pm and will start from Piazza Umberto and will end at 8pm Ferrarese squarewhere the «Partisan Concert». Initiative desired by the anti-fascist coordination of the city of Bari and province composed of Anpi Bari, CGIL Bari, Arci, Libera Puglia, Zona Franka, Union of Students and Link university coordination.
