Monday, May 30, 2022

Italy: Tomb of 6-Year-Old Boy Desecrated with Swastikas

-TGR


Very disturbing news out of Italy today. Back in 1981, a 6-year-old boy named Alfredo (Alfredino) Rampi, fell into a  well and was trapped for two days as rescuers attempted to retrieve him. The story was carried live on national TV and all of Italy watched. Sadly, the little boy could not be saved. It was one of those stories that captures the heart of a nation. Here in the US, we remember similar episodes like that of Jessica McClure (1987) and Kathy Fiscus (1949). I recall from my early childhood the case of Kathy Fiscus because it happened in the Los Angeles area where I grew up. While McClure was saved, Fiscus died.

Recently, a mural with Alfradino's image was dedicated in Rome. That may have spurred one or more unidentified barbarians to go to Alfredino's tomb in Rome and deface his tombstone with 11 swastikas and other insults not specified. It has shocked Italy once again.

I have searched several Italian news sources on this story, and I find nothing that indicates whether Alfredino was Jewish or not.

The below article from Il Giornale is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/cronache/profanata-lapide-alfredino-rampi-11-svastiche-e-ingiurie-2038563.html

The tombstone of Alfredino Rampi desecrated with 11 swastikas and insults

30  May 2022-19:22

Unknown persons (using) a felt pen, have defaced the tombstone of Alfredino Rampi, the child who died falling into a well on Vermicino in 1981.

Pain without end for the relatives of little Alfredino Rampi, the 6-year-old child (who) fell into a well in Vermicino on 13 June 1981 and died notwithstanding all the attempts made to save him. A few days away from the anniversary of his (death), unknown persons have smeared his tombstone with graffiti depicting swastikas and insults. The motives that led to such desecrations of the tomb located at the Verano Cemetery of Rome are unknown.  According to what TGR Lazio (News) revealed, the desecration was reported by a visitor to the Roman cemetery. The woman reportedly noticed the swastikas yesterday, explaining that ten days ago, the tombstone, located at pavilion 85 at Verano (Cemetery), where the brother of little Alfredino is also interred, was intact. The investigation has been assigned to the Carabinieri.

The bewilderment and condemnation on the part of politicians for the vile act carried out on the tomb of the child is unanimous. "The desecration of the tomb of Alfredino Rampi is a very serious, unjustified, and incomprehensible act. The investigators should shed light on what has happened and pursue those responsible without any delay", declared the group leader of Fratelli d'Italia (FdI-Brothers of Italy political party) in the Parliament, Francesco Lollobrigida. "The description of the tomb of Alfredino Rampi is a blow to the heart. The perpetrators of this (attack) should be ashamed of themselves, and I hope (they) will be identified soon," the governor of the Lazio region, Nicola Zingaretti, commented. 

(There is) also indignation on the part of the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri: "The cowardly desecration of the tombstone of little Alfredino Rampi, smeared with 11 swastikas, is unacceptable. We will immediately clean up this mess. Alfredino rests in our hearts. Shame on these barbarians." In addition, Giancarlo Righini, regional counselor of FdI in the Lazio region, commented on the news. "Whoever offends the memory of the dead commits the most heinous of crimes, against the person and his relatives. But to (attack) the tombstone of that boy who died in such tragic circumstances is an act so ferocious and insane that it reaches the absolute peak of evil. After this dark episode, perhaps, the administration of the capital will  revise the security and control measures of the Verano Monumental Cemetery." 

The desecration might have been carried out in connection with the inauguration of a mural that commemorates little Alfredino Rampi, integrated last May 28 in the Garbatella district of Rome. It is a large work of 70 square meters (in honor of) the child for whom Italy stopped still for two days. The boy was in Vermicino, a small town in Lazio (region), together with his parents, to spend a few days on vacation when, without warning, he slipped into a deep, 36-meter well, which signaled the end. It was the first direct newscast by RAI, which told of the rescue attempts with a live broadcast of 18  consecutive hours, until dawn on the 13th of June, when the tragic news of the death of little Alfredino. A few weeks after the incident, it was decided to create the National Department of Civil Protection.



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