40 years later, in Palermo, the memory of Rocco Chinnici, the architect of the fight against the mafia.

Last Updated: July 29, 2023

Rocco Chinnici 40 anni dopo, a Palermo il ricordo dell'architetto della lotta alla mafia

#Palermo
“We must follow the path traced by Rocco Chinnici, and reach international cooperation in the fight against organized crime by developing Chinnici’s thoughts on cooperation and communication.” This is stated by Lia Sava, the Attorney General of the Court of Appeal of Palermo, on the 40th anniversary of the commemoration of the assassination of investigative judge Rocco Chinnici.

The memories start from via Pipitone Federico 59, the building where the magistrate lived and where on July 29, 1983, a green Fiat 126 exploded, taking the lives of two bodyguards, Carabinieri marshal Mauro Trapassi and Police Officer Salvatore Bartolotta, as well as the building’s doorman, Stefano Li Sacchi.

Memories and new frontiers of action against the mafia intertwine. Mayor Roberto Lagalla, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, President of the Region Renato Schifani, Carabinieri General Rosario Castello, Prefect Maria Teresa Cucinotta, and Chinnici’s children Giovanni and Caterina lay wreaths in honor of the fallen.

Emotions are visible in the eyes of colleagues, friends, and family members. Chinnici, the fundamental and refined architect of the fight against the mafia, is remembered by all as an example and a guiding light for the new and young generations, who saw in him the face of legality. “The first time I met him,” recalls Giovanni Paparcuri, the judge’s driver and the only survivor of the massacre on via Pipitone Federico, “he was going to speak to the students at Umberto I school: it was a dialogue between a father and his children.” This aspect is also highlighted by Giuseppe Ayala, the prosecutor of the maxi-trial: “I was privileged,” he says, “he had requested that Alfredo Morvillo and I be assigned to him. I had a great teacher, and our relationship became almost paternal on my part: Rocco had this paternal, almost protective instinct.”

As the refined architect of the fight against the mafia, his daughter Caterina recalls his insights that still set an example today: “What developed after my father’s death stems from what we now call the Chinnici method – emphasizes his daughter – which has now also reached Europe.” “The state is here, Riina and Provenzano spent their days in prison. The same fate is reserved for Matteo Messina Denaro,” highlights Maurizio Gasparri, Vice President of the Senate. “When we say that the heroes of the anti-mafia movement live on, they live on in these triumphs of legality.” After a minute of silence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a speech that recalled the great work carried out by Judge Chinnici: “Rocco Chinnici began to involve public opinion against the criminal syndicates – he said – we only owe him tribute and always consider him an example for the youth. The underworld is defeated by leading by example, by teaching girls and boys what it means to stand on the side of the state.” And he adds: “The government wants to continue fighting against organized crime, with the awareness that the 41-bis [tough prison regime] will not be touched and there will be no backward steps in the fight against organized crime in Sicily: Italians are on the side of the state, law enforcement, and the judiciary.”