On 9 and 10 May 2024, Alessandria will be the scene of an important historical conference at Palazzo Monferrato, which will remember the events of the 1974 prison revolt, a significant episode in the history of Italian justice. The event is organized by the City of Alessandria in collaboration with various institutions including the National and Regional Order of Piedmont, the Foundation of Social Workers, the Institute for the history of resistance and contemporary society in the province of Alessandria “Carlo Gilardenghi ”, and other local entities.
The conference entitled “9-10 May 1974. The revolt in the Alexandria prison” aims to offer a historical reconstitution of the events, fifty years after they occurred. It aims to explore not only the causes and immediate consequences of the uprising, but also to reflect on the transformations in the prison and detention system that followed.
The day of May 9th will be dedicated to the memory of the revolt, with sessions that include direct testimonies from those who experienced the events and interventions by historians and experts. On May 10, however, there will be a special session entitled “Dying at work: in memory of Graziella Vassallo”, which will analyze the circumstances of the death of one of the victims and discuss the evolution of social services in the judicial context.
Parallel to the conference, from 4 to 25 May, a documentary exhibition will be held at the Guasco Gallery. The exhibition will seek to offer a critical rereading of the events, placing them in the broader context of the political and social dynamics of the time.
This conference not only serves as a moment of historical memory, but also as food for thought on contemporary prison policies and the need to guarantee more humane detention conditions that comply with the fundamental rights of the individual.
For further information and reservations, visit the website of the Institute for the History of Resistance and Contemporary Society in the province of Alessandria, or contact the organizational secretariat directly at [email protected].
