Italy: CFWIJ Condemns Attacks Against Italian Journalist Selvaggia Lucarelli
Location: Italy, Rome
Date: November 20, 2021
Photo Credit: AGF
Italian protesters against Covid-19 Green Pass attacked, intimidated and insulted Selvaggia Lucarelli, a journalist covering the rally for the Rome-based newspaper Domani. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns these acts against Selvaggia and reiterates the call for a safer environment especially for women journalists who are facing such challenges while exercising their work.
Selvaggia Lucarelli, an Italian journalist was attacked and threatened by protesters during a rally against Covid-19 Green Pass in Rome on November 20, 2021.
Selvaggia was reporting for the Rome-based newspaper Domani at the Circus Maximus in the city center where around 4000 people gathered without masks.
Media reported that Selvaggia was told to leave multiple times and in a moment was surrounded by protesters chanting “giornalista terrorista” (journalist terrorist).
The Rome-based newspaper Domani reported about the moment when a man hits Selvaggia's phone with his head while she is recording, which can be seen in a footage shared by the journalist herself.
“I was attacked in every possible way,” Selvaggia wrote in a twitter post sharing the video.
Ieri sono andata al Circo Massimo per la manifestazione no vax con cappello, occhiali, mascherina. Nessuno sapeva chi fossi. Per il solo fatto di chiedere “perché è qui oggi?” sono stata aggredita in ogni modo possibile (denuncerò). Presto il video integrale su @DomaniGiornale pic.twitter.com/9KYg6MvmP8
— Selvaggia Lucarelli (@stanzaselvaggia) November 21, 2021
The journalist shared another video showing sexist insults, intimidation and violence.
She also added that the situation created was possible “thanks to the total absence of the police in the area of the circus maximus (they were just outside, well away from the demonstrators)”.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is concerned to often see women journalists being targeted by such groups, especially when covering similar events. We call on authorities to work on providing a safe environment for journalists so they can freely exercise their work.
Qui il mio video integrale con insulti, intimidazioni e violenza alla manifestazione no green pass a Roma: https://t.co/s78E1eiRdf pic.twitter.com/5PJx6UUoG4
— Selvaggia Lucarelli (@stanzaselvaggia) November 21, 2021
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.