Ronchi dei Legionari, the celebrations of World Press Freedom Day

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd, Leali delle Notizie is organizing a meeting with first and second level secondary schools on Thursday 2 May in Ronchi dei Legionari, also open to all citizens, dedicated to the memory of journalists and information workers who lost their lives while carrying out one’s profession. This year in particular, the testimonies will be brought by the families of Andrea “Andy” RocchelliOf Mario Paciolla, to whom an orange bench was dedicated in via Roma in the latest edition of Journalism FestivalOf Italo Toni e di Graziella De Paloall journalists killed for whom we continue to demand truth and justice.

«We strongly believe in the defense, promotion and diffusion of Article 21 of our Constitution which allows us to be informed citizens – explains Luca Perrino, president of Leali delle Notizie –. In fact, in 2023 we became the local presidium of the Articolo 21 association, giving further impetus to the activity carried out over the years in favor of protecting the freedom of expression of journalists and citizens. This is thanks to our Festival and other cultural activities. May 2nd will be an opportunity to bring out the stories of Rocchelli, Paciolla, Toni and De Palo and to honor them. We want to ingrain the concepts of legality and freedom of the press in the new generations, so that the stories of the journalists we tell are not forgotten, but rather continue to be taken by the hand, handed down and accompanied over time.”

The day of May 2nd was organized with the support of the municipal administration of Ronchi dei Legionari. It will start at 10am in the palatenda in Piazzale Martiri delle Foibe where students, guests and institutions will be welcomed. Starting from 10.45am, the floor will be given to Rino Rocchelli and Elisa Signori, parents of Andrea “Andy” Rocchelli killed in Ukraine, Pino Paciolla and Anna Motta, parents of Mario Paciolla, killed in Colombia, Aldo Toni, brother of Italo Toni killed in Lebanon and Nico De Palo, cousin of Graziella De Palo, killed in Lebanon. The testimonies of family members will alternate with the screening of some videos made by students of the “Gino Luzzatto” state institute of higher education in Portogruaro.

This will then be followed by a moment dedicated to the Press Freedom and Expression Walk which will see the students and the population as protagonists. The Walk, inaugurated on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day in 2021, is divided into 24 panels arranged along the streets of the center of Ronchi dei Legionari and is a journey through the stories of journalists and information workers who lost their lives while they did their work. The objective of this initiative is to honor all information professionals forced to give up their freedom and their daily lives in order to carry out their work without compromise. A walk that, every year, is the destination of many visitors who come from all over Italy and beyond.