A Carnival float in a parade in the Italian city of Formello has drawn criticism for its alleged racist nature. The float, made up of a car tugging a fake boat and people painted with blackface, displayed placards with the slogans: "We want wi-fi" and "I don't pay rent."
An anti-migrant Carnival float that was paraded through an Italian town near the capital has raised the ire of those working against racism in the country. It displayed a fake boat, faces painted black and various other stereotypes.
The mayor of the Formello, Santi Gian Filippo, claims it was an "attempt at political satire that was misinterpreted." Many, however - including many members of the Democratic Party (PD) - have called it disgraceful.
Wave of indignation on social media
The photos and videos of the parade went viral on social media networks, fostering acute indignation.
Placards on display had the slogans ''I don't pay rent'' and ''We want wi-fi'' written on them. On the fake boat were people made up as migrant children, surrounded by a blue banner symbolizing the Mediterranean Sea.
The float was tugged by a car flying an Italian flag. ''It was a real float,'' the Formello mayor said. ''On the car, there were also flags of parties such as the PD, the Five Star Movement (M5S), and the League.''
''Their intention was to simply engage in political satire,'' he stressed. ''Perhaps it was an unsuccessful attempt. The theme behind it was 'Italy Today'. It is wrong to interpret it as racist. Our city is not racist. And any gesture that moves in that direction should be condemned.''
The mayor, who is also the head of the Valle del Tevere consortium, which provides inclusion services for 17 municipalities, said that ''on the issue of migrants, I say: 'open ports but no to clandestine immigration'.''
PD calls it incitement to racism
"Using a popular, joyous festival of pure entertainment to deride and offend those arriving in Italy after overcoming incredible sacrifices and at the risk of their lives is vulgar and is a real instigation to racism," said the Lazio branch secretary of the center-left Democratic Party (PD), Bruno Astorre.
"We have a duty to stop this," said Marta Bonafoni, head of the Lista Civica Zingaretti in the Lazio region.
Riccardo Travaglini, mayor of Castelnuovo di Porto, also criticized the event. His municipality had until a few months ago hosted one of the largest special reception centers in Italy until it closed after an interior ministry order. "I condemn that float and I am doing this for the territory itself," he said.