Last Generation activists sentenced to six months:“For us it's a victory”

The judge granted general mitigating circumstances and the justification of having acted for "particular social and moral reasons"

BOLOGNA –  “They sentenced us to six months in prison, but the judge recognized it the particular moral value of our action:therefore, for us today is a victory."They say it the three young activists of Ultima Generazione sentenced today in Court in Bologna to six months, with a suspended sentence and without mention in the criminal record, for the blockade of the ring road on November 2nd, when during an 'anti-climate change' blitz they cemented their hands on the asphalt, interrupting traffic.

“It is the first conviction we have received for interruption of public service at a national level,” some of the boys' colleagues, who arrived from Milan, said on site. Bologna's conviction came for the crimes of private violence and interruption of public service, with the granting of generic extenuating circumstances and the motivation of having acted, in fact, for “particular social and moral reasons”. All acquitted, however, for damage, unauthorized demonstration and violation of street permits.

Leaving the Court, in via d'Azeglio, in front, under the portico of the former Bastardini hospital, the three militants (Ettore, Silvia known as Mida and Aurora) are greeted by applause and shouts from their companions, gathered in a sit -in from shortly after 9am with a view to the start of the hearing at 9.30am.The summary sentence from investigating judge Simona Siena arrived around half past midday.The children's lawyer, Elia De Caro, explains as soon as the hearing ends:“It is very early for a complete evaluation of the sentence, for which we await the reasons within 90 days from which the 45 days will begin to be able to appeal, which we will generally do. We already express moderate satisfaction, because three hypotheses of crime have been excluded and the mitigating circumstance of having acted for particular moral and social reasons has been granted“.The lawyer points out:“It was therefore considered that the issues that my clients raised with their action were shared. The alarm about the climate emergency embraces everyone:there are those who say they embrace it and yet carry out actions that accelerate it and there are those who, perhaps with the wrong forms, and we will work on this, carry out actions in the interest of everyone".In any case, compared to the beginning of the story, over a couple of months ago, "we think we are already on a different level", confides De Caro.The defense, towards the appeal, focuses in particular on the exclusion of damage, which allows the application of the precautionary measure, even if the accusation of private violence remains.

“We believe that all things considered our reasons have been heard, at least partially.We will see how we can try to improve today's outcome in the future", concludes De Caro, also speaking outside the Court, in front of a gathering of activists.Silvia, a scout like Ettore (who among other things is a university doctoral student), then tells journalists:“Today they condemned the three of us, but tomorrow there will be 100s and 1000s of us taking to the streets to do the same things. The judge recognized honorable motives behind our November action. Don't be afraid - is the girl's appeal - in saying and doing uncomfortable things, if you think that all this is unfair, complain to us.Healthy conflict serves change."Silvia remarks again:“I am not sorry and I would do it all over again, so that the world becomes a better place.We will not be frightened by repression. We are in a state of emergency, climate and social, but our institutions are completely disconnected from reality. So what if we continue to do things like this?Yes".Aurora is being more cautious, in light of the suspension of the sentence granted by the Court:“Will we continue these actions?We'll see what the lawyers also tell us, with the suspended sentence we'll have to evaluate.I am not able to give a certain answer, even if I agree with what Silvia says. The judge, an institution, recognized the high moral value of our actions and therefore this is a victory for us, despite the 6 month sentence“.

Aurora remarks:“We want a dignified future, not the rich who get richer and the poor who become poorer and poorer. What we do makes sense and we will continue to do it."Ettore concludes:“I believe that our action is absolutely right.If there is a right motivation to improve the world, for us and for the young generations, it is also legitimate to do something that is not normally done, responding to the call of one's conscience. We want to think about the future, even possibly breaking the rules at certain times“.