Bologna, July 21, 2026 – A new, long letter entrusted to social media once again. After the night of urban guerrilla warfare, following the clashes after the demonstration for the death of Abderrahim Fakir, mayor Matteo Lepore speaks of a Bologna that “saw two squares”. A long post in which, however, it is striking that there are no words of solidarity towards the police officers, with the Police Headquarters reporting 64 injured, with prognoses ranging from 3 to 35 days.
Lepore’s letter after the clashes
“Piazza Nettuno represents Bologna – writes the mayor -. Thousands of people met peacefully and spontaneously to express their closeness to the family of Abderrahim Fakir. Piazza Roosevelt and the clashes, however, do not represent Bologna. Those who think of responding to violence with violence exclude themselves from the rule of law. And therefore exclude themselves from our democratic community”.
The mayor then recalls the speech in front of the Partisan Shrine, in Piazza del Nettuno, by Yossra Fakir – Abderrahim’s niece – (video), whose text he shares, and continues: “With great emotion, strength, and dignity, she represented the thoughts of her family, gathered beside her, and said: ‘We are not here to ask for hatred. We are not here to ask for revenge. We are here to ask for truth, justice, and respect.’ With these words, she silenced the indiscriminate chants against the institutions. Just as the Fakir family distanced themselves from the violent individuals in Piazza Roosevelt”.
Read more Action against Lepore: “Was it worth dividing Bologna once again?”
The night of urban guerrilla warfare: burnt cars, violent graffiti, injured
Then Lepore insists: “Last night, precisely in the hours when someone was trying to speculate on the pain of the Fakir family, I went with the family members to the Police Headquarters to deposit the proxy of their legal representative. We passed together between two lines of riot police and were welcomed by the Police Commissioner of Bologna. Outside there was blind, unjustified, stupid violence. On the other hand, there was a family destroyed by grief crossing that threshold with composure, dignity, and trust in the rule of law. The Police Commissioner of Bologna showed us what it means to represent institutions with humanity and respect. Their embrace sincerely moved me. It is a moment I will never forget, and I thank them for it”.
“I have no doubt which of the two squares represents me. And I have no doubt which emotions I prefer to cultivate – concludes the mayor -. I believe it is up to institutions to stand by victims. The history of our city has taught me this. The competent authorities will say what happened on Sunday at Pilastro and ascertain responsibilities, but now the voice of the Fakir family is represented, and a democratic Bologna is on the field, which does not intend to leave room for violence and instrumentalization. Let’s remain human. Let’s do it together, once again”.
