I don’t know how big a story this is outside of Germany and Italy, but the Sea Watch III captain Carola Rackete has been detained by Italian authorities, facing up to 10 years in prison. Racktete is part of the civil sea rescue operations that safe migrants in the Mediterranean, because our collective governments have decided to simply let them all drown. Rackete had rescued over 40 people and Italy simply denied her access to their harbours (as did Malta) while other countries simply ignored her requests to access their harbours (France, I see you).
As the situation on board became worse and worse, with people threatening suicide, Rackete decided to land in Italy, despite warnings and bans ( you can read up the whole thing in English here). She has quickly turned into a symbol figure, not the least because the Italian fascist in charge, Salvini, has decided to make her an example and because she really, really gets to him, because we all know that nothing threatens a fascist dude more than a young woman who simply won’t know her place and who is standing up to him.
So please show your support to this brave woman by signing the petitions and/or by donating to her support fund.
#FreeCarolaRackete
FWIW, it’s being covered in the Boston Globe. I’ve seen multiple Associated Press stories over the past couple of days.
The Guardian has been covering her story along with the whole situation, which stinks. Not that the UK’s treatment of migrants or even refugees is anything to be proud of either.
It’s so infuriating, I’m still appalled that Italy is actually doing this while the EU pretty much collectively shrugs.
Rackete’s detainment is a big story here right now too, probably even bigger than it would be if it didn’t follow the news about a Portuguese volunteer on the rescue boat Iuventa who is also being charged by Italian authorities and facing up to 20 years in prison (story here). I don’t even know what to say, one would guess our governments would at least realize how history is going to judge them.
Update: a judge set her free (though not all charges have been dropped)
Salvini is frothing and foaming at the mouth, vowing to do a reform of the judicial system, because obviouskly judges sticking to the law and not to what a minister wants cannot be tolerated.
This is how you get fascism, but we already knew that…