Inheritance of Libero Grassi, Addiopizzo: “Who pays is colluding with Cosa Nostra”

Last Updated: August 27, 2023

On August 29, 1991, the mafia killed Libero Grassi in Palermo for refusing to pay protection money. On the 32nd anniversary of his murder, Addiopizzo reflects on the extortion phenomenon in the city. However, it should be noted that many still pay the extortion, especially in certain areas and sectors, without reporting it. The narrative needs updating: the main concern for those who pay is no longer fear or loneliness, but complicity. There are merchants and entrepreneurs, especially in the construction sector, who pay protection money and ask the same extortionists to eliminate competitors, collect debts and stolen goods, resolve disputes with employees, and handle neighborhood issues. This degenerative variant of extortion has become dominant. In recent months, several construction entrepreneurs facing extortion attempts have been encouraged to report their stories. They highlight the challenges faced by businessmen and workers in certain areas, where other construction companies secure supplies and contracts through extortion payments and tax incentives. It is necessary for employer organizations and unions in the construction sector to promote concrete actions, encourage all entrepreneurs to report, and sensitize construction site managers (who receive extortion demands) to do the same. This is a moment where the government should adopt measures to deter complicit companies from accessing tax benefits and bonuses, instead of reinstating subcontracting practices that facilitate collusion with the mafia. Such actions would discourage complicity, protect the market and the community, and be consistent with existing regulations, like the “obligation to report” imposed on companies working with public administration since 2009.