We publish the communiqué of the Laboratorio Autogestito Paratod@s on the arrest of 5 police officers at the Verona Police Headquarters for torture and abuse.

The straw that broke the camel's back of the Verona police
The libel charges against 4 Verona activists have been dropped.

We had been aware for some time that the Verona Police Headquarters was not a "safe" place, free from violent and racist behaviour.

It was on the 28th of December, 2021, when, together with other Veronese associations and social spaces, we took a stand in front of the offices on the Galtarossa seafront, both to show some human solidarity to the hundreds of migrants queuing for hours in the open air, waiting to be picked up, and to denounce the offensive treatment of the same migrants by the operators of the police headquarters*, in violation of the rights enshrined in the law. As a result of this action, four activists, including one from our collective, were charged with defamation for having stigmatised, in the leaflet they distributed, the "sometimes blatantly racist and exclusionary attitudes" of operators and officials towards migrants.

Now, with the news of the arrest of four policemen and an inspector from the Verona police headquarters for the torture and ill-treatment of migrants and homeless people, some reflections need to be made.

The charge of slander reveals the gigantic stalking horse of the Verona Police Headquarters under the leadership of the former Quaestor. An intimidating and damaging action against freedom of criticism, the meaning and seriousness of which is now fully understood. It is good to know that the complaint was filed by order of the Magistrate Marzio Bruno Guidorizzi of the Verona Court, because what was said was a criticism of the whole institution of the Questura, which certainly cannot be a crime.

We demand that direct and indirect responsibility be quickly established at all hierarchical levels for this extremely serious, racist, fascist state violence, which, as we know, has unfortunately been going on for decades. And may the victims receive justice. However, it is also necessary to remember that the fundamental problem is the policy of total hostility to the migratory phenomenon that has been pursued by Italian governments for years, which has resulted in a whole reception system characterised by overly restrictive laws, long and complex bureaucratic procedures, disorganisation and lack of staff, and poor cooperation between institutions (police headquarters, prefectures, municipalities). The result is a toxic mix that leads to denial of rights, frustration, humiliation and, increasingly, psychological distress for migrants.

A situation that we, as Paratod@s, have been touching with our own hands every day for at least two years, since we occupied an abandoned house to house more than 40 migrants who would otherwise be forced to live on the streets because no one would rent them a house, because the prices on the housing market are so high, because public institutions do nothing to offer popular housing solutions. People who, despite working hard (and being underpaid!), are unable to stabilise their situation, regularise their documents, obtain a residence permit, a doctor, a bank account. A reality that affects hundreds of migrants in Verona alone.

Recognising the fundamental rights of every human being and of everyone who chooses to live in Italy, taking people out of illegality, out of clandestinity, out of eternal precariousness, out of invisibility: this is the only way to create 'security' and 'decency', to lay the foundations for a more civilised and dignified life for everyone.

SOLIDARITY WITH VICTIMS OF TORTURE AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM

NO TO THE ABOLITION OF THE CRIME OF TORTURE

IDENTIFICATION CODE FOR ALL POLICE OFFICERS