Anarchist Protest in Rome’s Pigneto for Alfredo Cospito; Sit-in at Justice Ministry Planned
Rome, Italy – April 11, 2026 – Approximately fifty anarchist activists convened yesterday in Piazza Nuccitelli, a public park in the Pigneto district of Rome, to demonstrate their solidarity with Alfredo Cospito. The gathering, closely monitored by law enforcement, also served as a remembrance for Sara Ardizzone and Alessandro Mercogliano, two anarchists who died in an explosion. Organizers have announced a further sit-in scheduled for this afternoon outside the Ministry of Justice on Via Arenula, ahead of a larger march planned for April 18 in Piazza Trilussa.
The actions are part of a broader mobilization by anarchist movements in support of Alfredo Cospito, whose 41-bis prison regime, a harsh detention measure, may be extended for another two years in early May. Cospito, who has been held under this regime for four years, has become a symbolic figure for anarchists.
During yesterday’s protest, no incidents were reported, but participants displayed banners and chanted slogans in favor of Cospito. Security forces, including agents from Digos and the Carabinieri’s investigative unit, along with forensic police from the Questura, were present to monitor the situation.
“If today many more people know about the inhumanity and torture of 41-bis, where you cannot read a book or look at a tree, it is thanks to the hunger strike undertaken by Alfredo. We do not want another hunger strike to be necessary to bring this issue back to the center of public debate,” stated the anarchists, announcing today’s assembly at 4:00 PM in Via Arenula.
Banners at the protest not only expressed solidarity with Cospito but also paid tribute to Sara Ardizzone and Alessandro Mercogliano, who were killed in an explosion at a farmhouse in the Parco degli Acquedotti while reportedly assembling an explosive device. Slogans such as “With Sara and Sandro in the heart of the revolution” and “Our most beautiful dream is the worst nightmare of politicians” were displayed.
The organizers clarified their motivations, stating, “It is not for Sara and Sandro nor for Cospito that we decided to hold this assembly. We are here because the current climate of repression is worrying, as is the militarization of society, and Delmastro’s dinners with mafia frontmen. They have created a climate where people are now afraid to take to the streets,” they claimed.
The protest highlights growing concerns among anarchist groups regarding perceived state repression and the conditions of detention under the 41-bis regime. The planned sit-in at the Ministry of Justice and the upcoming march on April 18 underscore their determination to keep these issues in the public discourse.
The authorities continue to monitor the situation, ensuring public safety while respecting the right to protest. The ongoing dialogue between activist groups and government bodies remains crucial in addressing these complex social and political issues.
The broader implications of these protests, particularly concerning the balance between national security and civil liberties, are likely to continue to be a subject of public and political debate in Italy.
