Under the rallying cry "Assassins, mafiosi, out" ( "Assassini, mafiosi, fora" ), thousands of people marched on Saturday afternoon in Ajaccio and Bastia.

These demonstrations, of unusual scale on this theme, testify to a fierce determination of Corsican society to oppose the criminal gangs that are plaguing the island.

An Unprecedented Anti-Mafia Coordination

These gatherings are the work of an unprecedented anti-mafia coordination effort , bringing together a dozen associations. Founded in September, this union includes a variety of actors such as:

1. The collectives “A Maffia no, a Vita ié” (No to the mafia, yes to life).
2. The Maxime-Susini association, named after a nationalist activist assassinated in September 2019.
3. The Via Campagnola agricultural union (Peasant Confederation), particularly concerned about criminal appetites for agricultural land .
4. Environmental protection associations, such as U Levante and Le Garde .

The Cost of Silence and the Peril

The banners held up by the Corsican youth displayed an unequivocal message: “A mafia fell, U silenziu dino” (The mafia kills, so does silence).

1. Testimonies: Protesters, like 27-year-old Lara Marcellini, came to "show that as citizens we are motivated to fight," stressing that while she is not personally affected, her relatives have suffered "catastrophic repercussions" because of the mafia.
2. Organizers' Warning: In their statement, the organizers had made a clear appeal, inviting only those who believe in the existence of the mafia and the usefulness of the fight.
3. Risk-taking: Jean-Dominique Musso, regional president of Via Campagnola, acknowledged the danger of their approach: "We are putting ourselves in danger. We are aware that we are taking risks. But we will do it anyway. We will not give up."

This mobilization is all the more poignant as it echoes tragic precedents. The first anti-mafia demonstration in March brought together between 1,500 and 3,000 people, but nine days later, Pierre Alessandri, secretary general of Via Campagnola who had participated, was assassinated.

Institutional Support

The citizens' movement received the support of the prosecutor of Bastia, Jean-Philippe Navarre, who considered that this initiative "demonstrates a very strong will of Corsican society to rise up against criminal practices that are stifling its economy ."