The demo brought hope and noise and drums and a big sound system. We could see the men and women inside from the raliway bridge.Crying freedom and wawing at us . Some detainees started dancing at the sound of the music. Bottles were thrown at the wall of shame that separate the detainees from us. Detainees inside spoke via phone and loudspeaker about the inhumane conditions they are kept.
Ponte Galeria is rumored to be the worst detention centre in Italy. Two deaths occurred recently. Salah Souidani was beaten to death by the police under the eyes of the Red Cross, after asking in vain for assistance after feeling ill - the Red Cross in Italy is involved with the running of all the prisons for migrants, and makes good money from it. Nabruka Mimuni, who had lived 30 years in Italy, killed herself rather than be deported, she had repeatedly threatened to do so but nobody took notice.
The new laws introduced with the so called Pacchetto Sicurezza bring from 2
to 6 months the lenght of detention.