Rome (Fides Service) - “it all started in 2002, when we lit up the Colosseum to increase awareness on the problem of the death penalty all over the world” Stefania Tallei, head of the Sant’Egidio Community’s Anti Death Penalty Campaign told Fides. “Since then every year on November 30 monuments in many parts of the world, are illuminated to encourage as many people as possible to join our Campaign”.
Today, Tuesday 30 November 2004, is S. Egidio’s World Day Against the Death Penalty. In Rome it will be marked by a Meeting “No Capital Punishment” at Palazzo Leopardi in Trastevere, followed by a march through the streets to the Colosseum in which personalities and authorities will take part. November 30 is the historic date on which the Grand Duchy of Tuscany abolished the death penalty in 1786. On that date ahead of his times, Grand Duke Leopoldo passed a law to abolish torture and the death penalty .
This year more than 300 cities all over the world are taking part in the event including: Milan, Florence, Naples, Genoa, Palermo, Turin, Venice in Italy and Madrid, Barcelona, Vienna, Brussels, Geneva, Berlin, Paris, Dublin, Copenhagen and Stockholm, Albania with Tirana and Kosovo, for the first time; Mexico City and the Mexican President, Fox, Buenos Aires, San Salvador, Bogota and Medellin (Colombia); Canberra and Wellington; Atlanta, Porto Alegre (Brazil) and Montreal, Tokyo. Each city will illuminate a monument to say no to the death penalty. Among those present at the meeting in Rome: Lance Lindsey, Death Penalty Focus, USA, Juan Melendez, formerly condemned to death, Porto Rico, Bud Welsh, father of a victim from Oklahoma City, USA, Vera Chirwa, Human Rights Commissioner, Malawi, Nick Yarris, 23 years on death row, Tamara Chikunova, of the Association of Mothers Against the Death Penalty and Torture, Walter Veltroni, mayor of Rome, Mario Marazziti Sant’Egidio community. Italian actor Gigi Proietti will read texts on the subject. (P.L.R.) (Agenzia Fides 30/11/2004 - Righe 29; Parole 372)