“At first I was undecided, but then I thought this story deserved to be told. The family that is the protagonist deserves it. Our city deserves it.” Thus begins the story of Mayor Antonio Decaro who wanted to share the story of Mario and Laura (fictitious names), brother and sister victims of crime, on social media. Just a few days ago the first hearing against the extortionists was held, with Decaro present, alongside the two citizens of Bari.
“It is the story of Mario and Laura (they are fictitious names), brother and sister – the mayor continues in the story – who decide to carry on the small family business inherited from their father. Two respectable people who at a certain point, due to a series of robberies and thefts suffered in their company, find themselves in difficulty. They are afraid they won’t hold up. Someone advises him to turn to the wrong people, “the Parisi family”, unscrupulous people, who put them under extortion by infiltrating the company by promising false protection. The thefts and robberies, as if by magic, stop from one day to the next. But one day they kidnapped one of their relatives, looking for money. One evening five years ago, unaware of everything, I met Mario and Laura. Their eyes were wide and their voices were trembling. And they used allusive phrases, strange turns of phrase. It was clear that something was wrong. It was clear that they, the victims (!) were ashamed to tell what was happening. I convinced them to be accompanied by the Carabinieri. Together we found the courage to report and from that moment the investigations into the extortionists began,” he highlights.
“A few days ago – Decaro writes – I was in court for the first hearing of the trial, together with the president of the anti-racket association. I promised them that the city would not abandon them and I wanted to keep my promise by wearing the tricolor sash: to represent the best city, to demonstrate, there, in that hall, that there is a Bari that, like them, does not give up. While Mario testified he had the same wide eyes and the same trembling voice as our first conversation. Then I tried to meet his gaze. To be strong with each other. This hearing will be followed by others and others, and even when I am no longer the mayor, I hope to be at their side again. Just as I hope that you can all tell Mario and Laura’s story, in your office, at home, in schools, to your friends and family. You can tell it to all those who say that Bari is a mafia city. Because this is the story of a proud Bari, which gets back up. The story of a Bari that overcame fear with courage. The embrace you see in this photo is proof that we can escape from the yoke of crime. It is the embrace of finally free citizens. Free because they chose to challenge the mafia. Free, because they won,” he concludes.
