Baby Gang, convicted in the first degree for a robbery and a shooting, has been in the Busto Arsizio prison for about twenty days. The doors of the prison in via per Cassano opened for him following the publication on social media of photos taken from the set of a video clip for the launch of a single taken from his latest album. According to the judges, these posts would have violated the house arrest requirements.
In the past few hours, the trapper began a hunger strike. This was made known by MP Aboubakar Soumahoro, who visited the 22-year-old in prison in Busto. «The left once again brings solidarity to those on the wrong side», comments the Bustocca MEP Isabella Tovaglieri, who today had a letter delivered to the trapper.
Soumahoro’s visit
«I started a hunger strike because it feels like living in the 18th century. I’m striking for the living conditions of prisoners. My childhood was sucked into an unjust system. Freedom of expression must be protected. Thank you for your visit”. These are the words of Baby Gang addressed to Soumahoro and reported by the deputy himself after the inspection visit to the Busto prison.
«This prison – writes the parliamentarian of the mixed group on Facebook – in addition to serious structural problems, is among the most overcrowded facilities in Italy. Out of a capacity of 240 places, there are 431 inmates, more than half of whom are of foreign origin. There is also a shortage of staff. As our constitution states, prison sentences should have as their main objective to reintegrate our young people into society and not push them into the depths of social exclusion. This risks being a failure of our system.”
Tovaglieri’s reply
«It amazes me that the left, which should be on the side of the weakest and most fragile, is coming to show solidarity to those who have been defined as socially dangerous by the judges – says Tovaglieri 24 hours later, in front of the entrance to the house district –. I came to point out the difference: the League is on the side of those who enforce the rules and those who live by the laws. I invite Soumahoro to come and visit some association, perhaps in the Busto area, which deals with recovering victims of cyberbullying and violence, which Baby Gang praises.”
Addressing the deputy elected with the Green-Left Alliance, Bustocca adds: «You also mentioned the issue of prison overcrowding. I’m glad he’s only realizing it now. The problem was there even before Baby Gang was detained here and it is a problem that must be worked on seriously in Rome and not by making it seem like spot catwalks to visit the VIP inmate on duty.”
And the letter
Tovaglieri arrived in prison with a letter addressed to Zaccaria, the trapper’s real name. «I hope that this period of detention can help you reflect on the influence that your actions and the lyrics of your songs can have on younger people, pushing them to emulate you, with the consequences that you yourself are suffering, if not worse – writes the MEP –. In fact, not everyone is as bold and armored as you, and not everyone has the tools to take on intimidation or acts of any form of violence without repercussions. There are many young people who, listening to your music steeped in violence, contempt for the rules, contempt for women and hymns to an easy life, risk taking paths of no return, burning up the opportunities for redemption and future that our country offers them.”
Hence the invitation to use “this opportunity to become a positive model for your generation”.
