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Italian Tamils commemorate Liberation Day

Members of the Italian Tamil Youth Organisation, “Giovani Tamil”, came together in Reggio Emilia on the 25th of April to commemorate Italy’s Liberation Day or “Festa della Liberazione”.

Held annually, events across the country marked the day, when in 1945 the insurgent Italian resistance movement, backed by Allied forces, liberated the country from the dictatorship of Benito Mussolini and beat back the Nazi army. The event in Reggio Emilia was held in the town of Gattatico, particularly significant for the seven Cervi brothers who lived there. The seven brothers were killed by Fascist forces for their active role in the resistance movement for democracy.

Over 15,000 people had gathered in Gattatico to pay tribute to the heroes of the resistance.

Giovani Tamil members laid a floral wreath as a mark of respect to the resistance fighters, before addressing the crowd, describing the similar sacrifices made by the tens of thousands of “maveerar” in the struggle for Tamil Eelam. As a symbol of hope and freedom, they then presented Gattatico’s Mayor Rossella Cantoni with the National Flag of Tamil Eelam.

A plaque beneath the flag read, “United in resistance towards freedom”.

During the event members of Giovani Tamil had also set up a stall with DVDs, books and leaflets about the genocide of Tamils.

See a video from the event below:

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