When the Italian government shuts its ports to migrants it’s time for cities to disobey and keep them open. We celebrate the courage and principled stance of mayors of Napoli, Palermo, Messina and others for doing just that. We stand with you.
The new Italian government has announced it will shut its ports to all boats carrying migrants. The ‘Aquarius’, a vessel carrying over 600 people on board, including over 100 unaccompanied minors, is currently stationed off the coast of Sicily . Far-right Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, in cooperation with the Five Star Movement’s Infrastructure Minister, Danilo Toninelli, are preventing the “Aquarius” from entering port.
Several Italian mayors, including DiEM25 member, European Spring partner and Naples mayor Luigi de Magistris, as well as Palermo mayor Leoluca Orlando, have announced that they will disobey the government’s actions and keep their cities’ ports open. DiEM25 praises and supports their action and courage. Because when the law becomes illegitimate, the law must be disobeyed.
We call on mayors all across Italy and Europe to follow de Magistris’ and Orlando’s example, and prepare to welcome migrants in defiance of national laws.
Where national governments fail the test of humanity, cities must take the lead in showing us how to remain human.

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