Violent confrontation between migrants and the local population in Rosarno

Alert DateJanuary 7, 2009 Country: Italy Address: Rosarno General Type: Racist violence, Racist discourse, Discrimination, Institutional discrimination, Equality/Integration Racism and discrimination phenomena: Extremism - organised Racist Violence, Anti-migrant/xenophobia, Afrophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Employment - labour market, Housing, Health and social protection, Anti-discrimination, Anti-racism, Integration - social cohesion, Daily life Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Internet, TV Media, Public Discourse, Political Discourse

Related Case Studies

Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender Female, Male
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number 53
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Perpetrator Gender N/A
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number N/A
Extremist/Organised Group Violence Yes

On the 7th of January 2009, two separate drive-by shootings, the second of a Guinean, led to a protest by African seasonal migrant workers, who marched in rage through the town to denounce their inhumane living conditions and economical exploitation. During the protest, there were several violent episodes, such as setting fire to cars and clashing with riot police. The next day, local residents set up an informal road-block and occupied the local town hall in protest: migrants were reportedly beaten with iron bars, five deliberately run over and a further two injured by shot-gun pellets. Amnesty International reports that in total, 53 persons were hospitalised, including 21 migrants, 14 local residents and 18 police officers. Order was only restored in the town after the departure of most of the migrant workers, hundreds of whom were removed from the town by the authorities. Following their departure, many of the temporary shelters they had set up in abandoned buildings around the town were demolished by the authorities. Although the situation of Rosarno is also linked to the inhuman working conditions of seasonal workers, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Jorge Bustamante and the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Githu Muigai said in a joint statement that :“The violence which erupted in Rosarno is extremely worrying since it reveals serious and deep- rooted problems of racism against those migrant workers”.

Source: ENAR SHADOW REPORT 2009/2010 - Racism and Discrimination in Italy by Laura Di Pasquale - /resources/toolip/doc/2011/10/17/enar-italy-2009-2010.pdf

Rosarno, immigrati in rivolta centinaia di auto danneggiate - http://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2010/01/07/news/rosarno_immigrati_in_rivolta_centinaia_di_auto_danneggiate-1872028

Immigrants Riot at Rosarno - http://www.corriere.it/International/english/articoli/2010/01/08/immigrants_riot.shtml

Southern Italian town world's 'only white town' after ethnic cleansing - http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/11/italy-rosarno-violence-immigrants