DONGO - If it wasn’t for the presence of van loads of riot police, several tense moments would no doubt have become violent after anti-fascist activists turned up at a neo-fascist protest at the site where Second World War Fascist dictator Mussolini and his mistress were executed.

  Around 50 post-fascist protesters met at 8:30 on Sunday morning at Piazza Paracchini in Dongo, on the shores of Lake Como, to commemorate the execution of Mussolini, and other fascist leaders of the past, on several occasions giving the Roman salute, according to police sources.

  At the same time around 200 members of ANPI (National Association of Italian Partisans), CGIL (Italian General Confederation of Labour) and other anti-fascist groups arrived, responding with slogans and chants.

  The police were forced to put up barriers and park their vans in between the two groups.

  “The fact that a protest like this is permitted is an offence to Italians,” said Guglielmo Invernizzi, the President of ANPI for the province of Como, who explained that the event was authorised by the questura and prefecture. “For a while we have raised the problem, but even this year, it’s like getting blood out of a stone. The day before yesterday we met the Prefect, but the replies were that it’s not possible to prohibit a protest, with respect to the freedom of expression, constitutionally guaranteed, and certainly it is not possible to know if any crimes will be committed.”

  He continued, “law enforcement can present a report with the crimes that violate the Mancino law [permitting the prosecution of those involved in discrimination and the incitement of hate crimes], but if the magistrate doesn’t bring it forward, the prefecture can’t do anything.

  “According to them, therefore, such as how we are allowed to protest, so they have the right to receive the same treatment… but the constitution says that the fascist party cannot be constituted under any form.”

  He added, “we cannot accept that they consider us as equal to them, it would be an offence to Italy, those who formed the Resistance, and who gave their lives for the defence of a free country.”

 jp-ol