VIDEO | The complaint of the anti-clan parish priest of Rome to Dire: “The State has abandoned the suburbs”
ROME – “Unfortunately, in various cities two worlds have been created: a world made of ‘us’ and a world made of 'them', as if the suburbs were the last part of the city. The suburbs, however, are the beginning of the city and should not be left alone. Thus Don Antonio Coluccia, the priest of Apulian origins who has been involved in the […]
ROME – “Unfortunately in various cities two worlds have been created: a world made of ‘us’ and a world made of ‘them’, as if the suburbs were the last part of the city. The suburbs, however, are the beginning of the city and should not be left alone”. Thus Don Antonio Coluccia, the priest of Apulian origins who has been involved in the fight against organized crime for years and under guard for his strong commitment against drug dealing in the outskirts of Rome, interviewed by Dire Oggi in Romeas part of the final event of the 23rd edition of the ‘Icaro’ competition, the State Police campaign launched in 2001 to promote the culture of conscious and responsible driving among the younger generations.
WHERE VOIDS WERE CREATED, THE CLANS ARRIVED CLAN
“Therefore, for too long the State has created gaps in the suburbs – continued Don Coluccia– which have allowed the clans to take possession of those territoriesand to ‘offer’ their criminal welfare. We must therefore also link drugs and squatted house rackets to demonstrate the criminal power of the clans and create a social consensus within these neighborhoods.” Big cities, according to the anti-mafia priest, must “never normalize organized crime, because the clans steal hope and undermine the common good, showing citizens only the face of criminal power. But no: the State must reclaim these spaces.” In the meantime, in many suburbs, thanks to the commitment above all of the young inhabitants, important social initiatives have also been carried out over the years.
IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS OF ROME RESIGNATION WINS
Do we need to speak even a little well about the suburbs?
“Very often Rome is not always well described – replied Don Coluccia to Dire – at the moment in the capital there are some suburbs in which there is a certain criminal criticality, we saw it in the Quarticciolo, in Tor Bella Monaca, in San Basilio, in Laurentino 38, as well as for example in Primavalle are worlds, places, inhabited by people who have now resigned themselves to living there /strong>and we must understand them to help them react. Above all, the State must bring the culture of beauty and physical activity to these territories”.
THE GYM OF LEGALITY
Don Coluccia then recalled the ‘Gym of Legality’ inaugurated last year in San Basilio and managed by the Fiamme Oro sports group of the State Police, where girls and boys from the neighborhood can learn the rudiments of boxing. “Anyone who presents a certificate of healthy constitution can access the gym, completely free of charge – continued the priest – These kids must be given alternatives and the State must create proximity, updating these alternatives. We are confident that, thanks to everyone’s help , an organized system of life can be brought to the suburbs”.
THE ‘ICARO’ PROJECT
When asked about the ‘Icaro’ road education project of the State Police, aimed at young people, Don Coluccia replied: “I support this project because life has no ‘spare parts’ and young people if they have to ‘organise’ it well, Don Tonino Bello would say. Life is the first gift and security is also an implementation of this great gift that God has given us”. Road accidents, as was recalled during the event, are the leading cause of death among young people and “many” are also due to the use of narcotic substances.
DRUGS
Don Coluccia, you have been involved on this front for years, what is your comment?
“Personally, in the various drug dealing places, I saw many motorists but also trucks coming in to buy a few doses of cocaine – he told Dire – so we must tell these people not to use narcotic substances, because life is already amazing. Substances are addictive and we must have respect for our own lives, then we also put the lives of others at risk, and yet unfortunately behaviors that do not comply with the code road are precisely the cause of death of many young people. Information campaigns should be addressed to them and the ‘Icaro’ project of the traffic police is an example of this at a national level. Communicating, this is the way – he concluded – to always make young people happy more informed, aware and responsible”.