May 23rd is an indelible date in the history of our country, which marks a historical watershed for the acquisition of greater civic awareness on the part of all our compatriots: the Capaci attack shattered the lives of authentic fighters for legality , gigantic personalities in terms of moral, professional and human depth. Today, the National Coordination of Human Rights Teachers believes that the best way to pay homage to them is to remember them through the words of a young student who was not yet born in 1992, but who was able to become passionate about the history and struggle of Giovanni Falcone, Francesca Morvillo, Vito Schifani, Rocco Dicillo and Antonio Montinaro, a fight waged for the affirmation of legality. Giulia Vinci of class III section. G of the Filolao Scientific High School in Crotone, so she writes:
“The Capaci massacre is a deep wound in the soul of Italian society, an event that marked a turning point in the fight against organized crime. It is a tragic memory that reminds each of us of the fragility of justice and the importance of continuing to fight for a better future, where legality and justice always prevail.
The Capaci massacre occurred on May 23, 1992. Giovanni Falcone, an internationally renowned anti-mafia judge, his wife Francesca Morvillo and three escort agents lost their lives in a bomb attack on state road 113, near Palermo airport.
A car bomb, prepared by the Sicilian mafia, exploded when the escort convoy was traveling along the road, killing all the car’s occupants. The bomb containing over 500 kg of TNT blew up the central part of the motorway, causing the death of Falcone, his wife and the escort officers.
Falcone and his wife Morvillo, also an able judge, were engaged in important investigations into the criminal activities of the Sicilian mafia and were carrying out the so-called “maxi-trial” against Cosa Nostra, which had already led to the indictment of hundreds of mafiosi. Their deaths profoundly shook the country and provoked an unprecedented wave of indignation and mobilization against the mafia, pushing the Italian state to intensify its fight against organized crime.
Giovanni Falcone was an Italian magistrate, known for his commitment to the fight against the mafia. Born on May 18, 1939 in Palermo, he embarked on a career that led him to become one of the most famous and influential anti-mafia magistrates in the country.
After completing his law studies at the University of Palermo, Falcone began working as a judge in Trapani in 1964. In 1978 he was transferred to the education office of the Court of Palermo, where he began to focus on organized crime. Here, he worked closely with another important anti-mafia magistrate, Paolo Borsellino.
Falcone was one of the pioneers in combating mafia activities through the financial analysis of their movements. He worked tirelessly to decipher the structure of the Mafia and its economic operations, developing innovative investigative techniques. This work led to the creation of the “anti-mafia pool” in 1983, a group of specialized magistrates who worked in close collaboration to fight Cosa Nostra.
One of the most significant moments of Falcone’s career was the Palermo Maxi Trial, which began in 1986, which saw hundreds of mafiosi put on trial. The trial was a turning point in the fight against the mafia, demonstrating the state’s ability to successfully prosecute leading figures of the criminal organization.
However, Falcone’s success made him a target for the Mafia. Today the image of the Capaci massacre remains a symbol of the aberrant cruelty of the mafia men, but it is also the symbol of the courage, hope and commitment of many martyrs who lost their lives in the name of legality.
The death of Giovanni Falcone marked a crucial moment in Italian history, leading to important reforms in justice and a strengthening of anti-mafia laws. His courage and dedication continue to inspire subsequent generations of judges and citizens engaged in the fight against organized crime.”
Prof. Romano Pesavento
President CNDDU
