– At least 5,000 people marched at the Calabrian town of Cutro, site of the February 26 migrants disaster that has killed at least 74 people including at least 30 childen, on Saturday under the banner ‘Stop The Massacre Now’ and blaming the government for alleged negligent delays in rescuing the migrant traffickers’ boat.

The protest march was promoted by the Rete Asilo (Asylum Network) pro-refugee group and was attended by dozens of associations, political parties, trade unions and movements.

The marchers waked behind a cross made out of wood from the shipwreck boat, which broke up in rough seas after hitting a reef when the smugglers made an abrupt turn.

The demonstrators came from all over the centre and south of Italy and also from some northern regions.

When the match started there was a verbal clash with a lady on a balcony who hurled insults against the protesters, who replied by singing the WWII partisans’ song that has become a leftist classic, Bella Ciao.

Among the participants was the former migrant-integration hero and mayor of the Calabrian experiment town of Riace, Mimmo Lucano, who is facing prison time for breaking immigration norms.

“Sometimes I’m ashamed of being a Westerner”, he told reporters.

The protest started at the entry to Steccato di Cutro and ended up on the seafront where on Saturday the 74th body, of a six year old girl, was found.

Journalists covering the march wore a pass replicating that of an Afghan women colleague who died in the disaster.

Source: Ansa News Agency (ANA)