A swastika was drawn on a plaque commemorating the deported Giulio Niccolai, in Ponte a Elsa, a hamlet of Empoli (Florence). It is the Municipality that announced it in a press release, explaining that it is a vandal act that took place in one of the four gardens in the town named after as many people who died in the extermination camps.
In particular, Niccolai was deported on 8 March 1944 only to find his death on 11 June of the same year in Mauthausen. Investigations are underway by the police also through video surveillance cameras. “This is yet another case of serious offense to the memory of our community – comments the mayor of Empoli, Brenda Barnini -, an unacceptable scar that tramples on the feelings of anti-fascism on which our history is based. As always, we will try to identify those responsible and in the meantime we will clean up the tombstone ».
For president of the regional council, Antonio Mazzeo “it is shameful and unacceptable the outrage to the memory of Giulio Niccolai, who died in the extermination camp of Mauthausen, and a symbol, together with three other citizens, of the victims of the monstrous Nazi hatred in a park in Empoli . The swastika that has soiled the tombstone in the Gardens of Memory in Ponte a Elsa is also an outrage to the historical memory of an entire community! ».
«These gestures – adds Mazzeo – not only offend the memory, the values of our Constitution and all the victims of the Nazi-Fascist beast, but above all they represent a worrying regurgitation that we hoped had been buried by history. I would make those responsible visit the Mauthausen camp, only in this way could they understand the gravity of their gesture. My solidarity goes to the community of Empoli, to the national association of ex deportees and to all those who are committed to the culture of memory. In order not to leave room for hatred, we are called to continue to give a voice to witnesses, even and above all those who are no longer there and we did so strongly as a Regional Council on the Day of Remembrance last January 27 ».