Following the death of the Senegalese ambulant killed last 5 March with five gunshots by Roberto Pirrone, thousands of citizens joined the anti-racist court organized in Florence. The parade, starting from Piazza Santa Maria Novella, paraded peacefully through the streets of the historic center, crossing the Vespucci bridge where Idy Diene was shot dead. Many members of the Senegalese community but also many Florentines united by a single cry, relaunched also on social media: "we are all anti-racists".
The demonstration was organized by the Senegalese Organizations in Tuscany which, after the controversies and tensions, also issued an appeal to march peacefully: "The occasion is intended to be a painful reminder of a loved one but also a collective affirmation of the refusal of hate speech towards migrants and refugees which has markedly characterized the public debate in the last year. There is no doubt that this crime took place in a climate full of hatred and tension for months during which immigrants and refugees were pointed out for all evil ".
The appeal released by the organizers was clear: "While we confidently await the conclusions of the work of the judiciary on the murder of his brother and friend Idy Diene, we invite all citizens of Florence, the city institutions and all of Tuscany, civil society organizations, trade unions, religious organizations to join us in remembering our brother and friend Idy Diene, the latest victim of a murderous madness. We invite you to march peacefully with us and reaffirm that we are united in saying enough to a murderous violence which not only throws families into suffering, despair and fear, but also undermines cohesion in our cities ”.
A message of peace and hope was also launched by Izzedin Elzir, imam of Florence who, speaking to reporters during the event, said: "I believe there is the possibility of starting again from this day and marking a new relationship of closeness between our people. which is only one, aimed at peace and civil coexistence - we thank all the Florentine citizens who wished to participate in today and who in these days have sent dozens of messages of solidarity for what has happened. This shows once again that we are a united family ”.
Meanwhile, the lawyers of Idy Diene's family have opened a current account to support the family, 10 children in Senegal. The regional councilor for the presidency, Vittorio Bugli, who took part in the demonstration, underlined: “I am here to testify my closeness and that of the whole region to the Senegalese community of Tuscany. And to reiterate that all forms of violence and racism must be rejected, as we have always been committed to doing. The investigators are carrying out their investigation work and we expect the results confidently and respectfully. However, there are elements that may suggest the racist matrix. In any case - concluded Vittorio Bugli - what tragically happened calls us to demonstrate publicly to say no to any form of racism and to bring our solidarity to a community, such as the Senegalese one, which after having shown anger, letting itself go to some damage , he then opened a subscription to pay the damages, demonstrating great maturity, civic sense and full belonging to the larger Tuscan community ”.
The event was joined by the mayor of Florence Dario Nardella who was well received. On the sidelines of the event the mayor said he had met Idy's family: "I talked with Idy's family, he agreed to let a funeral day take place with a funeral ceremony, and this allows us to plan the city's mourning and in this so we give a further sign of sensitivity and closeness of our city "
Contrary to what previously written, the mayor accompanied the whole demonstration until the return of the procession in Piazza Santa Maria Novella and concluded by saying: "The Senegalese people express their feelings with great passion: here is also the Senegalese deputy Mame Diarra, there is the consul, and the president of the Senegalese community. I think today is an important moment, and there is Florence. It was not an obvious answer: Florence proves to be an open city, above all respectful of human life ”.