Graziella lives. And although that pain is always the same, today it has transformed into social commitment. Today, on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the Campagna murder, the Municipality of Saponara together with the Libera association has decided to share a moment of great reflection. Already during the celebration, father Giannandrea Rizzo underlined how Graziella has become, through her testimony, a cry for justice. “We must never lower our gaze in the face of evil”, said the priest. After the holy mass, an intense debate began, moderated by the journalist of the Southern Gazette Nuccio Anselmo, who remembered the figure of Graziella. She was only 17 years old when she was brutally killed by the mafia, just because she was an “unseemly witness”. The words then of Nino Alibranditrade unionist and son of Angelo Alibrandialso killed because he was an inconvenient witness. To intervene later Pasquale CampagnaGraziella’s brother, who reconstructed that tragic day. “That day a part of our life went away with her forever – he said -. The pain does not change and is the same, but we know that Graziella won the battle after a stormy path to justice”. Pasquale Campagna announced that, together with Tiziana Tracuzzirepresentative of the Libera association, will soon become a reality in the territory. He assured the many students present that Graziella’s memory will always be alive and a precious example.
The prefect then spoke Cosima Di Stani. “I appreciated this initiative so that no one ever resigns themselves to despair – he underlined -. I thank Libera and Don Ciotti because through this action they allow us to keep the memory alive”. Then again the senator’s intervention Barbara Florida. “Today I don’t want to talk about the law. My family taught me to be a correct person and not to be afraid to defend those in difficulty. For my territory, I will always do my part. I will give my support for the right things “. The lawyer Fabio Repici he recalled the tortuous judicial process and how “it shouldn’t have been the Campagna family looking for evidence”. School leaders Emilia Arena And Rossana Ingrassia they reaffirmed the school’s daily commitment to raising free and just citizens who follow the values of legality. Space also for the students of the Comprensivo di Saponara and Vilafranca, who gave shape to the memory of Graziella through poems, posters and thoughts.
The value of the “Graziella vive” initiative was also reiterated by the mayor of Saponara Giuseppe Merlino who, together with the councillors Nicola Donato And Rosalba Pinois committed to the success of the event of human and civil importance. Finally the intervention of Don Luigi Ciotti: “I feel that Graziella is a sister to me. The mafia cannot be just one of many things. Let us bring out the good things, we must keep our guard up, not take anything for granted, read today’s reality, which is not that of yesterday. We have been talking about the mafia for 170 years. The mafia is also that of power, when it hides behind manipulation and lies. This is a disease that has never been eradicated until there is a collective awareness , we will not succeed never to defeat this evil. Institutions are sacred and must be defended. Among these the world of school and culture. School helps us to go deeper confuse. The mafia also enjoys passive complicity linked to those who remain silent. There are over 20 innocent victims in this area. They are dead, we must be more alive.”
Also present in the Mother Church of Saponara were the mayors of Spadafora Lillo Pistone and Rometta Nino Cirinothe former mayors Nicola Merlino And Renato Accorintithe deputy mayor of Villafranca Gianfranco Ammendolia and many representatives of local associations.