Italian Police Accused of Humiliating Female Activists During Protest
Allegations arise as female activists claim police made them undress and perform squats
Brescia, Italy, Climate Activists, Extinction Rebellion, Police Allegations
Brescia: So, there’s this wild story coming out of Italy. Seven female climate activists are saying that police made them take off their underwear and do squats while they were being questioned. Can you believe that?
This all went down when the activists were protesting outside a factory owned by Leonardo, an aerospace and defense company. They were taken to the main police station along with a bunch of others after the protest got a bit rowdy.
The women are claiming they faced some pretty degrading treatment from the police. One activist from Extinction Rebellion shared a video where she said they were asked to undress and do squats “for checks.” It sounds so bizarre!
She pointed out that this kind of treatment was only directed at the women, not the men. Another activist backed her up in a different video, saying that this squat check is usually reserved for serious suspects, like those involved in drug crimes.
The protest itself was organized by Extinction Rebellion, along with other groups, and it briefly blocked the entrance to the factory. After about seven hours in custody, the activists were charged with “seditious gathering” and for protesting without notice.
Now, a lawyer for the activists is planning to file a formal complaint soon. Initially, the police denied the allegations but later said that the searches were done by female officers and that they just asked the women to bend down to check for dangerous items.
They insisted that everything was done properly and that the activists’ dignity was respected. But the activists are saying otherwise, claiming they were treated poorly.
Interestingly, this incident comes at a time when the Italian parliament is discussing a new security bill aimed at climate activists. This bill could make blocking roads and railways a criminal offense, with hefty fines and even jail time. The government is pushing for this bill to be approved quickly.
Some politicians are calling for an investigation into what happened in Brescia. It’s a pretty heated situation, with concerns about how the government is handling dissent and protests.