Vagli statue of Don Lorenzo Milani sparks controversy over disputed anti‑communist plaque

A marble statue of Don Lorenzo Milani is set to be unveiled in Vagli, Garfagnana, on 31 July. The work, commissioned by the municipal council, includes a bronze plaque that attributes the sentence “Il comunismo è la mediazione e l’organizzazione politica di ogni male, al fine di consentire a una classe dirigente parassitaria e brutale la gestione di ogni forma di potere sulle spalle degli ultimi” to the priest.

Former students, the Don Milani Foundation and related groups argue the quotation never appears in Milani’s writings and contradict his known views. In an open letter they state, “ quelle frasi non rappresentano il suo pensiero e i suoi insegnamenti.” They have filed a legal warning against the commune and launched a petition urging the council to replace the plaque before the inauguration.

The municipal council is expected to decide whether to keep or remove the disputed inscription, amid a broader debate about historical memory and accurate representation of the priest’s legacy.