They line up in military-like formation: a thousand strong, most dressed in black, some with tattoos on shaved scalps.

At the spot in Milan where Sergio Ramelli, a far-right student, was killed almost 50 years ago by anti-fascists, a leader summons his battalion of loyalists to attention. He shouts “camerata”, or “brother-in-arms”, and Ramelli’s name, as if delivering a roll-call. And then it comes: stiff right arms outstretched and raised, palms facing down, the fascist salute in the heart of Italy’s second city, and the crowd reply on the dead man’s behalf with a roar: “Present! Present! Present!”

It’s 2024, but this has frightening echoes of a century ago. While it may seem extraordinary to an outsider – and it was staggering to me, watching it close up – it is not out of the ordinary in Italy, where commemorations of this type take place every year.

  • Flying SquidM
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    191 month ago

    Didn’t one of Mussolini’s descendants run for office in Italy recently?

    • @BirdyBoogleBop@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      261 month ago

      2 of Mussolini’s descendants are in office. They also get mad if you bring up how their Grandad died and was subsequently strung up by his heels.

      • Flying SquidM
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        111 month ago

        That sounds less “consigned to history” and more “we’re still into the idea.”

        • @BirdyBoogleBop@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          1 month ago

          On the plus side they are part of two different parties. Ones right wing and the other is fascist. Which uh yeah. Not much of a plus really.

    • @Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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      61 month ago

      Yup and Meloni herself is an ideological descendant of him as well. Her party even has the same torch in their logo that’s on Mussolini’s tomb ffs!