Italy: Berlusconi decree legalises anti-immigrant vigilantes

[Hannah Bell]

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has authorised by state decree the setting up of private night-time vigilante groups. The government is thereby legalising the activities of the groups of racist and fascist thugs who have intensified their attacks on immigrants in recent weeks and months.

In the summit meeting on Friday, February 20, Berlusconi issued an emergency decree that allows volunteers in organised groups to patrol and identify suspicious individuals to report to the police. Currently, such militias are supposed to be unarmed and equipped with special mobile phones to make contact with the police. In future, the decree envisages a budget increase of €100 million from the interior ministry to fund 2,500 police reinforcements by April at the latest.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/feb2009/ital-f27.shtml


The wars are long, the peace is frail, the madmen come again.
There is no freedom in a land where fear and hate prevail.

Isn't this a time, isn't this a time?
A time to try the soul of men...

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. They could even wear black shirts to be fashionable

and historically politically relevant after all, its at night.

[leftstreet]

2. Berlusconi campaigned on anti-immigrant rhetoric

As the Italian economy tanks, this crap will get worse

[Old Michigander]

3. Could happen here too

If the economy continues to get worse and worse here in the US, unemployment gets as high as 10 or 15 percent, and civil unrest begins, I would not be surprised to see the Army intervene, dissolve the Congress, arrest key political leaders, and institute martial law. People need to get prepared and not be blindsided by this.