Trieste hosted a Black Lives Matter demonstration on Saturday 21 June in the central Piazza Unità.
Hundreds took to Piazza Unità on Saturday afternoon to protest the murder of George Floyd and the systematic racism that keeps African people from living fully free lives.
The organizers, cultural associations Tryeste, Comitato Pace Danilo Dolci, Mediterranea Saving Humans Trieste, Ics e Arc, said they “stand in solidarity with victims of racial oppression in Italy and send the message to Italian leaders that this will not be tolerated.”
Organisers said it is a non-violent protest and they asked people to “come with your signs and your passion, but no weapons.”
Hundreds of people of various nationalities gathered together in Largo Granatieri and proceeded to Piazza Unità, dancing and singing.
One of the female participants told Trieste Prima:
“They told me that Afro-Italians don’t exist, but I am one of them. I came to Italy when I was nine, I brought up three children here, I work, pay my taxes and I am an Italian citizen. I have encountered violence due to my skin color and I wasn’t able to find a job easily even though I am also a child of this country”.
The protest was spurred by George Floyd’s death, who was taken into police custody for paying for groceries with a counterfeit $20 bill.
According to the organizers, the meaning of the protests has been amplified in Italy where many immigrants of various racial backgrounds live.
“We are citizens of the world who live in Trieste but who have to deal with social and institutional racism on a daily basis. We are immigrants by choice or by chance and we will not be abused any longer.”
All photos courtesy of Liria de Polzer
By In Trieste
