Politician’s Racist Selfie Video With Roma Woman Enflames Social Media

A far-right politician in Italy made waves on-line Monday after posting a video of himself strolling as much as a Roma girl and telling Italians {that a} vote for his celebration on this month’s elections will guarantee they “never see her again” within the metropolis of Florence.

In the video, Alessio Di Giulio, a member of the native Florentine authorities from Italy’s far-right League (Lega) celebration, addresses the digital camera with a broad smile whereas the Roma girl, who clearly has no thought what he’s doing at first, waves. After Di Giulio repeats {that a} vote for the League is a vote to kick folks like her out of the town, she tries to inform him lightheartedly: “No, don’t say that.” In response, Di Giulio mockingly and cheerfully replies, “Yes!”

“The 25th of September, vote for the League, and you’ll never see her again in the city of Florence,” Di Giulio mentioned within the video, which was posted on Facebook and later deleted.

The Romani persons are Europe’s largest ethnic minority, in keeping with the European Parliament, with roughly six million dwelling within the European Union. Many of them endure “marginal and very poor socio-economic conditions and face discrimination, social exclusion and segregation,” in keeping with the Parliament.

According to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, you may hear a response from the lady faintly on the finish of Di Giulio’s video.

“I’m not afraid,” she mentioned.

Di Giulio Responds to Critics, Says He’s Not Racist Because He Has a Nigerian Girlfriend 

Di Giulio’s video set off an internet furor in Italy. Some customers agreed with him, whereas others described his phrases as disgusting. Di Giulio, for his half, didn’t again down.

As informed by Corriere della Sera, the town council member posted one other video on Facebook ranting about individuals who beg with techniques he described as harassment in Tuscany’s massive cities. Gizmodo couldn’t discover the submit in query on Di Giulio’s Facebook web page, so it’s not clear whether or not that had been deleted as effectively. However, many Italian information shops obtained screenshots of the submit.

In the video Di Giulio did submit, the Roma girl will not be seen begging or harassing him. In reality, it’s Di Giulio that approaches her to showcase a merciless marketing campaign message at her expense.

In an interview on Italian TV, Di Giulio mentioned that the video was “a joke, Florence style.” He mentioned that the Roma girl had adopted him on the street as a result of she thought he was a vacationer and wished cash. (For what it’s value, I used to be in Florence in April, and this man doesn’t appear like a vacationer.)

“What I revealed was a problem that’s evident in the city of Florence: begging via harassment. This woman doesn’t understand that she needs to go to work. Begging is not legal,” he mentioned, which is false, though there are some restrictions. “In the League, we defend legality. We could kick her out directly and serve her with deportation papers, like countless others who create problems in this city.”

When it involves individuals who name him racist, Di Giulio pulled out a tone deaf excuse that might be acquainted to many within the U.S.

“I’m not racist,” he mentioned. “My girlfriend is Nigerian.”

Head of Italy’s Far-Right League Party Responds 

Matteo Salvini, the top of the League celebration, chastised Di Giulio and mentioned he made a idiot of himself. Not that the celebration chief is a fan of the Romani group. In 2018, Salvini pledged to hold out a census and deport Romani folks dwelling in Italy illegally.

“He made a mistake. He made a fool of himself,” Salvini mentioned. “Problems are resolved with ordinances, with laws, with the police. The problem of the Romani camps isn’t solved with a video focused on one person.”

Besides being simply plain merciless, focusing the video on one girl who gave the impression to be merely strolling on the street perpetuates discrimination towards the Romani folks. Di Giulio has additionally uncovered the Roma girl to the results of going viral on social media. There had been many individuals who sympathized together with her, however there have been additionally many who agreed with Di Giulio.

The League, which is a part of a three-way coalition with far-right celebration Brothers of Italy and Forza Italy, is predicted to win Italy’s normal elections on Sept. 25.