Lotta Continua (LC; English: Continuous Struggle) was a far-leftmilitant organization in Italy, during the historical period of social turmoil and political violence in the country known as the "Years of Lead". Its leaders Adriano Sofri and Giorgio Pietrostefani ordered the assassination of police officer Luigi Calabresi in 1972. Militant Cesare Battisti later joined other organizations and repaired in France after being convicted for four homicides. Some other militants later joined the more famous Red Brigades. After the disbandment of the organization, various former militants became influential Italian politicians, journalists or writers.
Lotta Continua was founded in autumn 1969 by a split in the student-worker movement of Turin, which had started militant activity at the universities and factories such as Fiat. The first issue of Lotta Continua's eponymous newspaper was published in November 1969, and publication continued until 1982 after the organization disbanded in 1976.
Lotta Continua focused on spreading radicalisation from students and youth to workers, and played a large role in setting up social centres. Its influence was greatest among recently immigrated, young, unqualified workers in large factories, while the "traditional" working class kept its allegiance to the Italian Communist Party and the trade union movement.[citation needed]
Among the newspaper's enduring features was Roberto Zamarin's comic strip "Gasparazzo", which poignantly and humorously related the struggles of a worker at a Fiat plant.[1]
The group's leadership included Adriano Sofri, Mauro Rostagno, Guido Viale, Giorgio Pietrostefani, Erri De Luca, Paolo Brogi and Marco Boato. Other notable contributors included Gad Lerner and Alexander Langer. Since Italian law required that every newspaper needed a professional journalist to act as its managing editor, for some time Pier Paolo Pasolini lent his name in order to allow Lotta Continua's publication.[2]
At first a loose grouping with a focus on spontaneous action, it was centralised between 1972 and 1974, with its paper becoming a daily. As opportunities became more limited, it disbanded in 1976 after a national congress characterized by a severe ideological clash between male and female militants. At that time, Sofri and others embraced electoral politics, while some militants joined armed organizations, including Prima Linea and the Red Brigades.[3] The newspaper was published until 1982.
During the 1980s, most of Lotta Continua's representatives abandoned their original ideology. Marco Boato and Mimmo Pinto went to the Radical Party, others worked on TV (RAI or Fininvest) or in various newspapers. Many joined the Italian Socialist Party (PSI), supporting in particular Bettino Craxi's positions. Erri De Luca became a famous writer after joining various humanitarian organizations. Only a few of them, such as Marco Revelli and Fulvio Grimaldi, joined Rifondazione Comunista.[citation needed]
DeathsEdit
On 17 May 1972 the Milan police commissioner, Luigi Calabresi, thought to be responsible for Giuseppe Pinelli's death, was killed. Adriano Sofri and Giorgio Pietrostefani, former leaders of Lotta Continua, were condemned to long prison sentences for organizing the murder, and Ovidio Bompressi and Leonardo Marino for carrying it out. Ovidio Bompressi is one of the few political activists who has been pardoned (in May 2006) by Italian president Giorgio Napolitano (Democrats of the Left, DS) because of health reasons.[citation needed]
On 1 October 1977, during a protest march in Turin, activists allegedly attacked a bar with Molotov cocktails. Roberto Crescenzio, a 23-year-old student, died of burns sustained in this attack. Lotta Continua militants were accused of committing this attack, but were eventually cleared in court.[5]
^Nicola Pizzolato, "Revolution in a Comic Strip: Gasparazzo and the Identity of Southern Migrants in Turin, 1969–1975," Humor and Social Protest, ed. Dennis Bos and Marjolein 't Hart (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008)
^"Italy 1977-8: Living with an earthquake – Red Notes". Red Notes. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
^. Archived from the original on 25 August 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
October 23, 2023
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Lotta Continua LC English Continuous Struggle was a far left militant organization in Italy during the historical period of social turmoil and political violence in the country known as the Years of Lead Its leaders Adriano Sofri and Giorgio Pietrostefani ordered the assassination of police officer Luigi Calabresi in 1972 Militant Cesare Battisti later joined other organizations and repaired in France after being convicted for four homicides Some other militants later joined the more famous Red Brigades After the disbandment of the organization various former militants became influential Italian politicians journalists or writers Lotta ContinuaFormation1 November 1969 1969 11 01 Dissolved6 November 1976 46 years ago 1976 11 06 TypeFar left militant movementPurposeProletarian revolutionGrassroots political activismWorkerismHeadquartersRomeLocationItalyFounderAdriano SofriGiorgio PietrostefaniPrincipal ideologistsToni NegriMario TrontiRaniero PanzieriKey peopleAdriano Sofri Giorgio Pietrostefani Enrico Deaglio Marco Donat Cattin Gad Lerner Gianfranco Bettin Erri De Luca Giovanni Lindo Ferretti Alexander Langer Marino Sinibaldi Marco Rizzo Costanzo PreveMain organLotta ContinuaLotta ContinuaLotta Continua was founded in autumn 1969 by a split in the student worker movement of Turin which had started militant activity at the universities and factories such as Fiat The first issue of Lotta Continua s eponymous newspaper was published in November 1969 and publication continued until 1982 after the organization disbanded in 1976 Contents 1 Ideology 2 Deaths 3 See also 4 ReferencesIdeology EditLotta Continua focused on spreading radicalisation from students and youth to workers and played a large role in setting up social centres Its influence was greatest among recently immigrated young unqualified workers in large factories while the traditional working class kept its allegiance to the Italian Communist Party and the trade union movement citation needed Among the newspaper s enduring features was Roberto Zamarin s comic strip Gasparazzo which poignantly and humorously related the struggles of a worker at a Fiat plant 1 The group s leadership included Adriano Sofri Mauro Rostagno Guido Viale Giorgio Pietrostefani Erri De Luca Paolo Brogi and Marco Boato Other notable contributors included Gad Lerner and Alexander Langer Since Italian law required that every newspaper needed a professional journalist to act as its managing editor for some time Pier Paolo Pasolini lent his name in order to allow Lotta Continua s publication 2 At first a loose grouping with a focus on spontaneous action it was centralised between 1972 and 1974 with its paper becoming a daily As opportunities became more limited it disbanded in 1976 after a national congress characterized by a severe ideological clash between male and female militants At that time Sofri and others embraced electoral politics while some militants joined armed organizations including Prima Linea and the Red Brigades 3 The newspaper was published until 1982 During the 1980s most of Lotta Continua s representatives abandoned their original ideology Marco Boato and Mimmo Pinto went to the Radical Party others worked on TV RAI or Fininvest or in various newspapers Many joined the Italian Socialist Party PSI supporting in particular Bettino Craxi s positions Erri De Luca became a famous writer after joining various humanitarian organizations Only a few of them such as Marco Revelli and Fulvio Grimaldi joined Rifondazione Comunista citation needed Deaths EditOn 17 May 1972 the Milan police commissioner Luigi Calabresi thought to be responsible for Giuseppe Pinelli s death was killed Adriano Sofri and Giorgio Pietrostefani former leaders of Lotta Continua were condemned to long prison sentences for organizing the murder and Ovidio Bompressi and Leonardo Marino for carrying it out Ovidio Bompressi is one of the few political activists who has been pardoned in May 2006 by Italian president Giorgio Napolitano Democrats of the Left DS because of health reasons citation needed On 11 March 1977 Francesco Lorusso a militant of Lotta Continua was killed in Bologna 4 On 1 October 1977 during a protest march in Turin activists allegedly attacked a bar with Molotov cocktails Roberto Crescenzio a 23 year old student died of burns sustained in this attack Lotta Continua militants were accused of committing this attack but were eventually cleared in court 5 See also Edit nbsp Communism portalA luta continua Prima Linea Potere Operaio Autonomia OperaiaReferences Edit Nicola Pizzolato Revolution in a Comic Strip Gasparazzo and the Identity of Southern Migrants in Turin 1969 1975 Humor and Social Protest ed Dennis Bos and Marjolein t Hart Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2008 Pasolini in tribunale in Italian FindArticles com CBSi findarticles com Italy 1977 8 Living with an earthquake Red Notes Red Notes Retrieved 1 November 2012 Roberto Crescenzio Associazione Vittime del Terrorismo Archived from the original on 25 August 2009 Retrieved 12 July 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lotta Continua amp oldid 1174238597, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
