Palermo commemorates Libero Grassi 35 years after mafia assassination

Palermo held commemorations to mark the 35th anniversary of the assassination of Libero Grassi, a textile entrepreneur murdered by Cosa Nostra for refusing to pay extortion money, known as 'pizzo'. Grassi was shot on August 29, 1991, in via Alfieri, an act that became a turning point for civil resistance against the mafia in Sicily.

During the memorial, Grassi's children and relatives honored his memory by spraying red paint at the site of the shooting to symbolize the blood shed. Local officials, including the President of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, and various municipal and regional representatives, attended the ceremony. Schifani emphasized that those choosing legality must not be left alone, highlighting regional funds of up to 200,000 euros to support businesses facing usury or extortion.

The anti-racket association Addiopizzo also marked the occasion with banners across Palermo, noting that while Grassi was once a solitary figure in his defiance, today more entrepreneurs feel empowered to report threats to authorities. Despite recent increases in intimidation and extortion attempts in certain Palermo neighborhoods, officials noted a strengthened institutional response compared to 1991.