Eight victims of the July police raid on the Scuola Diaz, Genoa, are appearing this week before the Berlin Public Prosecutor, a body believed by many to be far from impartial.

The raid occurred on the night of 21st July at the end of anti-globalisation demonstrations during the G8 Summit in Genoa, Italy. The Scuola Diaz, used by protestors and journalists during the summit week as a place to sleep, was ransacked by a police force that included military police (carabinieri) and a contingent from the Italian Home Office. Most people in the building were knocked around and injured by police; many were then arrested, tortured at the Bolzaneto army barracks, and forbidden re-entry to Italy for 3-5 years. All were accused of belonging to the Black Block of protestors; the authorities produced black garments, penknives and lighters as evidence.

Although Italian lawyers have attempted to indict the police officers involved, there has been no proper identification of those responsible, and officers in charge at the time have been either reinstated or even promoted. But for the civilians who were in the building, the future looks bleak, since they are to be tried for possession of weapons and criminal damage.

The eight people being tried will appear before the 'Political and Extremist Offences' division of the Public Prosecutor. Since the division is investigating solely 'left-wing' activists, the worry is that it will be unconcerned with condemning extremely brutal police procedures, but rather will focus on repressing social dissent.

The Berlin group of victims are demanding:
-end to the trial, and to the repression of political activists!
-withdrawal of entry bans for all, EU citizen or no!
-end to police records!
-full inquiry into police practices in Genoa!
-punishment for the police officers responsible!
-compensation for the victims!
-resignation of politicians responsible for giving these orders!

In the way in which the victims have become the accused, many see the German state as being complicit with the Berlusconi regime. A rally is taking place in Berlin on Tuesday to oppose the trial and show support to the victims: UNSERE WAFFE HEISST SOLIDARITAET! - OUR WEAPON IS SOLIDARITY!