Moments of tension in Prato during the protest that took place around 1pm on Saturday 15 May in front of the ‘Hop & Drop’ pub, where the secretary of the League, Matteo Salvini, was expected. About thirty people, feminist protesters and the group “Not one less”, they protested, shouting anti-fascist slogans and a sign that attracted the attention of many: it says “Trans Jesus died for our freedom”.
The outgoing MEP Susanna Ceccardi approached the group of demonstrators attempting to speak to them, but shouts and protests – after a few minutes of tension – caused the attempt to be stopped. Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini, who arrived a few seconds after the incident, entered the pub from a secondary entrance, avoiding meeting the demonstrators. However, in his speech, made while taking part in the electoral lunch organized by his party, he said: «I would like to have a debate with the one who has the ‘Jesus is trans’ poster, to understand what idea of the future we have can be. It is a symptom, like the one yesterday in the Treviso school which ‘expelled Dante Alighieri because he is Islamophobic’: I think this is cultural suicide.”
Shortly afterwards the demonstrators abandoned the garrison. «Here they are the usual sinister protesters – he wrote shortly afterwards in a note Susanna Ceccardi – who would like to muzzle democracy and free thought. Men and women who insult, threaten, wave signs with unspeakable writing and refuse to confront those who are not on their side. Someone would like to physically lash out at me. But if they think they scare me, they’re very wrong. The League and I move forward with our heads held high, convinced of our ideas and proud of our roots and our values, ready to change Europe!”.
On the sidelines of the initiative, an electoral lunch for thirty euros upon reservation, attended by around 80 people, Salvini spoke to reporters about the local elections in Tuscany. In Florence “the old left-wing system has crumbled, so I think that even on the left there are reasonable people who want to change”, he said. «I am sure that the matches in Florence and Prato – added the vice prime minister – can be played, the victory of the right is now possible. I’ve known Eike Schmidt for a long time, she doesn’t need my advice, she has all my support, the League is there, then she can compete in the run-off. Eike Schmidt would do well to address all Florentines, except the old ultras, because change is possible.”
