Rome, Oct. 27 (LaPresse) – “Following the unrest on October 17, that day full of looting, violence, attacks on law enforcement officers, and injuries to Carabinieri and police officers, I would like to point out that violence must always be condemned without any ifs or buts.” Senate President Ignazio La Russa said this, adding in a video posted on social media: “I also say that some people condemn it, of course, including on the left. But they immediately add ‘but’. And I say that if there is a ‘but’, the condemnation becomes a mitigating circumstance.” Regarding the death of police officer Antonio Marino in 1973, and what historian Michela Ponzani said about the matter on television, La Russa reiterated: “As far as I am personally concerned, any claim of my responsibility or involvement in the tragic events that cost the life of the unfortunate officer Marino is completely fake and entirely unfounded.” “I was included in an indictment in which I had absolutely no involvement; I was never tried for anything,” he added. “Not even for taking part in an unauthorized demonstration. On the contrary, the court records state that I took steps to prevent incidents from occurring.” “No one will ever be able to stop me from saying clearly and forcefully, as I did on that occasion, and as the Italian Social Movement did more than fifty years ago, that violence must be condemned without any ifs or buts. I had to declare that I would take legal action against anyone who sought to associate my name with that tragic episode,” he continued. “However, I said I was ready to waive that action if, for example, Ms. Ponzani decided to apologize for her remarks.”
Demonstrations, La Russa: “Violence must be condemned without any ifs or buts, reports of Marino’s death are just fake news”
Rome, Oct. 27 (LaPresse) – “Following the unrest on October 17, that day full of looting, violence, attacks on law enforcement officers, and injuries to Carabinieri and police officers, I would like to point out that violence must always be condemned without any ifs or buts.” Senate President Ignazio La Russa said this, adding in a video posted on social media: “I also say that some people condemn it, of course, including on the left. But they immediately add ‘but’. And I say that if there is a ‘but’, the condemnation becomes a mitigating circumstance.” Regarding the death of police officer Antonio Marino in 1973, and what historian Michela Ponzani said about the matter on television, La Russa reiterated: “As far as I am personally concerned, any claim of my responsibility or involvement in the tragic events that cost the life of the unfortunate officer Marino is completely fake and entirely unfounded.” “I was included in an indictment in which I had absolutely no involvement; I was never tried for anything,” he added. “Not even for taking part in an unauthorized demonstration. On the contrary, the court records state that I took steps to prevent incidents from occurring.” “No one will ever be able to stop me from saying clearly and forcefully, as I did on that occasion, and as the Italian Social Movement did more than fifty years ago, that violence must be condemned without any ifs or buts. I had to declare that I would take legal action against anyone who sought to associate my name with that tragic episode,” he continued. “However, I said I was ready to waive that action if, for example, Ms. Ponzani decided to apologize for her remarks.”