In Italy’s ‘hospitality town’, migrants fight to save mayor who gave them a new home

In Italy’s ‘hospitality town’, migrants fight to save mayor who gave them a new home: Domenico Lucano revitalised his community by welcoming foreigners. He has been detained by the state … and supporters fear a political motive

In 2009, shortly after his re-election as mayor and several years after he embarked on a policy of welcoming migrants as a means of reversing depopulation in his town, Domenico Lucano was shot at through the window of a restaurant where he was eating with friends. As if to ram home their opposition to his plans, the local mafia also poisoned two of his dogs.

Unperturbed, Lucano responded by installing a billboard at the entrance of the town, saying: “Riace – a town of hospitality.” The sign remains today, as does one on the main square that lists the 20 countries people have come from – Eritrea, Somalia, Nigeria, Pakistan, to name a few.

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