Acca Larenzia: Rocca, Roman salutes? Individual choices

Rome, 7 January (LaPresse) – ‘The Roman salutes this afternoon at Acca Larenzia? I am here this morning to commemorate this barbaric episode, for which, after so many years, the perpetrators have still not been identified. And in my opinion, not enough has been done to identify them. What happens in the afternoon is a matter of individual choice, and if there is any unlawful behaviour, the judiciary will have to investigate it.’ These were the words of Lazio Region President Francesco Rocca on the sidelines of the institutional ceremony at Acca Larenzia in Rome in memory of Franco Bigonzetti and Francesco Ciavatta, the two young far-right militants killed on 7 January 1978 by an armed far-left group. As every year, in the afternoon, in front of the MSI headquarters where the incident took place, a ceremony is held for neo-fascist militants who perform the Roman salute during the “present” ritual. “A political message about Roman salutes? It seems to me that we always look at the finger pointing at the moon. These young people died for no reason and without anyone being held responsible. That is the sad reality, and I will not fall for this provocation,” added Rocca. “Pointing the finger at the few dozen, or few hundred, people who perform this gesture in a country of 60 million inhabitants seems specious to me. Let’s talk instead about the climate of hatred in politics that existed at that time”.