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