GORO – Residents of Gorino, who erected barricades and blockades to prevent the settling of 12 female migrants, some fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria, have won the battle, despite Minister of the Interior Alfano and the Italian government condemning their attitude and actions.

 The small clamming town of Gorino, seven kilometres from the larger city of Goro, resisted and sparked uproar at the arrival of a group of 12 women migrants (one pregnant) and their eight children.

 “Nobody told us anything, no one asked us if we were ok with housing migrants,” Mario, one of the 450 inhabitants of Gorino, said to Il Messaggero, “here, foreigners don’t come in.”

 On Monday morning, ‘anti-migrant’ blockades were set up in the middle of the street, not far from the delta of the Po river.

 The migrants had arrived from Nigeria, New Guinea and the Ivory Coast, surviving the dangerous journey across the sea, but not managing to overcome the frustration and anger of the protesting Goro citizens.

 “It makes me ashamed. Goro cannot accommodate 12 foreign women – I think we should reflect on the meaning of collaboration,” said Tiziano Tagliani, mayor of the province of Ferrara.

 Indeed, the Minister of the Interior Angelino Alfredo asserted, “In front of 12 women, one of which was pregnant, to organise street blockades does not bring honour to our country. Yes, we can say it was with the best intentions, we can find all the excuses that we want, but this is not Italy. What has happened here is not Italy.”

 Meanwhile, the mayor of Gorino, Diego Viviani, claimed, “It is not racist. We are willing and open like everyone else, we are Italians. It offends us that Minister Alfano has branded us as uncivilized.”

 Is this the story of a closed community, afraid of opening its doors to anyone from the outside? A micro-community that wants to remain that way, scared of change and transformation?

 Gino Soncin, Gorino resident, said Monday, “It’s not about lack of solidarity, if it just stopped at 12 women and their children there would be no problem. But we’re scared of further arrivals, and all the crime which this would inevitably generate.”

 Another resident claimed, “Not one person had explained that the issue surrounded just 12 women. First they talked about 10 men, then 20. So at that point, we all grouped together to protest … What are they coming here to do? There’s no school, no hospital, there’s barely enough work for us!”

 According to the Prefect of Ferrara, Michele Tortora, “The plan to house migrants in Gorino is no longer on the agenda,” quickly adding however, “These problems should be looked upon with good spirit and a sense of collaboration. The system of reception and housing of migrants becomes ever more stressful, but the procedures are correct. I never expected such a backlash as this, I found it baffling.”

 Of the 12 migrants and their children, some have been transferred to Ferrara, others to Comacchio and Fiscaglia.

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