An Italian university professor who
hailed a Red Brigades woman on her recent death as sharing the
same revolution as her although their ways to achieve it were
different has complained that her philosophy lectures are now
being systematically disrupted by members of the youth wing of
the centre-right post Berlusconi Forza Italia (FI) party.
"It's fascist thuggery and intimidation, threatening the freedom
to educate, I can't get through my lectures on Walter Benjamin,"
said the 67-year-old Rome Sapienza lecturer, Donatella Di
Cesare.
Di Crease said on the death earlier this month of BR member
Barbara Balzerani, who took part in the 1978 kidnapping of
Christian Democrat leader Aldo Moro that killed his five
escorts, in a widely criticised post she subsequently cancelled:
"Your revolution was also mine. Different ways do not cancel
ideas. With a heavy heart a farewell to Comrade Luna (Moon)
#barbarabalzerani".
Balzerani, who never reneged on her past of political violence,
but said she was sorry for the victims, was involved in several
killings including the Aldo Moro street ambush
Moro was kidnapped in the raid, and killed 54 days later.
Balzerani was also involved in the abduction of United States
General James L. Dozier in 1981.
The previous year she was part of the BR hit squad that
assassinated magistrate Girolamo Minervini.
She was arrested in 1985.
Due to her ability to dodge arrest she was dubbed "the scarlet
pimpernel" by the Italian media.
Di Cesare's praise for Balzerani was condemned by the centre
right, with rightwing League leader Matteo Salvini calling it a
"disgrace" and added: "In a university chair at the Sapienza
and very often a guest of the TV salons of (independent
broadcaster) La7.
"An unacceptable insult for the victims of Red terrorism. "Shame
on her.
But leftwing former Venice mayor and fellow philosophy lecturer
Massimo Cacciari defended Di Cesare Friday saying it was "crazy"
to think of disciplinary action against her.
He pointed out that Di Cesare was an internationally respected
academic and that she had immediately clarified her views saying
she had never had any sympathy for terrorism.
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