Ilaria Salis claims the occupations: “I confess, I was militant”
“Yes, I confess! I have been a militant of the housing movement which over the years has fought on the issue of the right to live, in Milan and throughout Italy”. So Ilaria Salis, Avs MEP, on Facebook. “If anyone thought they were making who knows what kind of scoop by digging into my past, it is only because they are sidereally far from the social reality of this movement, which is made up of tens of thousands of public housing residents and activists, who, for having stated the simple principle of having a roof over their heads, they ran into some complaints”, writes Salis.
“It would be desirable for the information, rather than throwing mud at me, to focus on the context of serious poverty and housing insecurity in which large sections of the population find themselves – he underlines – The collective practices of occupying vacant houses, the blocking of evictions, resistance to evictions, listening desks and the fight for amnesty represent a real and immediate alternative to social isolation and war among the poor, exploited both by racist political forces and by racketeering”.
“Giving a concrete response to the need for living means not only finding a solution here and now, although precarious and provisional, to a question left unresolved by institutional politics – Salis points out – but also to indicate a political perspective of transformation of the material conditions of life in the name of social justice. It is with great pride, therefore, that I claim to have been part of this movement and to continue to support it! I also want to clarify my situation.”
“As has been widely heralded in the right-wing media, Aler – continues Salis – claims a credit of 90,000 euros from me as ‘indemnity’ for the alleged occupation of a house in via Giosuè Borsi in Milan, based exclusively on the fact that in 2008 I was found inside. Although in the following sixteen years (!) no further checks were ever carried out to verify my permanence, nor was any civil or criminal proceedings initiated against me in relation to that house, Aler accounts for this credit. and has no qualms about making it public in the press the day before the elections.” “A large number of individuals and families, often without the necessary means to react adequately, are tormented by unfounded requests of this kind. The total credits accounted for by Aler in fact amount to over 176 million euros! The practice of requesting exorbitant ‘indemnities’ of occupation’ to tenants, based on uncertain assumptions to say the least, is a strategy used systematically to scare occupiers and attempt to raise cash”, writes the MEP.
“While many, too many people do not see their right to live guaranteed and have no dignified alternatives other than occupying – in one of the cities with the most expensive rents, let’s always remember -, the body that should protect this right seems to be more interested in criminalizing the movement fighting for housing and tenants rather than finding concrete solutions. In the next few days I will share some data and food for thought on the housing issue in Milan and Italy. I thank Libero & co. for providing me with this assistance to bring media attention back to a topic that is very close to my heart, because it is so crucial for the working classes and young people. No more people without homes, never more houses without people”, concludes Ilaria Salis.
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