This year’s rally of the crack ‘Alpini’ regiment of the Italian army in Rimini saw hundreds of young women sexually molested, the Italian ‘Me Too’ group Non Una Di Meno (Not One Less) said Monday.
The association said victims reported being whistled at, having obscene proposals made to them, and in some cases being groped. Many of the complainants were baristas and waitresses, Non Una Di Meno said. In this year’s annual Alpine regiment rally, over 400,000 people crammed into Rimini and the Romagna Riviera, flooding the coffers of hotels, bars and restaurants over three days packed with events and entertainment.
Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini said Tuesday that if the allegations were proven, they would be “extremely serious incidents that must be punished”. He stressed: “We will have zero tolerance of these episodes, if proven”. The president of the national Alpini association, Sebastiano Favero, told ANSA they had not received any police crime reports but if they did measures would be taken.
The May 5-8 rally generated turnover of 168 million euros, Trademark Italia said Tuesday. Emilia-Romagna Deputy Governor Elly Schlein said the women’s allegations must be taken seriously even if they do not make formal police complaints “because women often don’t report these things for fear of not being believed”.
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