Smash Repression: how Italy’s free party scene is fuelling a protest movement

It’s a sentiment reflected by the legions of people joining the rallying call of this movement. DJ Mag speaks to electronic music producer Sky Observer, who’s driven to Desenzano from Bolzano for the parade on a whim following a tip from a friend. “At first, I didn’t realise what it stood for,” he says. “But now I do. We refuse to go back to oppressive laws. We want unity, not division. Authorities must see we stand together against racism and intolerance.”

At around 5 PM , the parade comes to a stationary point in a green area next to the lake. Activists and partygoers, many donning keffiyehs, spread out across the space, split between the tekno and psytrance rigs, themselves draped in Palestinian flags. Volunteers in red armbands mill about, handing out water, collecting and sorting rubbish, while the Safe Trip harm reduction crew share drug safety intel.

We get chatting to students Hijara and her friend Fadora, both in their 20s, who’ve travelled from Modena. “We are feeling very oppressed by this government,” says Hijara. “So we want a revolution.” Fadora agrees. “We want to make a revolution with peace, we don’t want war or violence, just let us dance.” 

But the climate for protesting is volatile, Hijara says, because the risk of police violence is always present. “Yes, they gave us permission to have this protest, but if we continue past the 11 PM curfew, the riot police can come here and beat the fuck out of us. This is why we have to do things illegally – because we don’t have any other way.”