The Celtic cross, a symbol associated with neo-fascist groups, has been repainted at a square in the Acca Larentia area of Rome, the site where three young members of the far-right Youth Front (Fronte della Gioventù) were killed on January 7, 1978. The murders were one of the many violent acts during Italy’s Years of Lead that also bloodied the capital.
The original cross had been the subject of controversy, leading the city’s VII municipality to demand its removal in 2024 following disputes over the use of Roman salutes at commemorative events. Despite this, at least five individuals reapplied the faded graffiti in broad daylight last Wednesday, as confirmed by photos sent by residents to the municipal president, Francesco Laddaga.
The secretary of Rome’s Democratic Party (PD), Enzo Foschi, reported the symbol’s reappearance. This comes after the municipality, then led by the PD, had previously passed a motion calling for the removal of the Celtic cross and other wall writings. In their motion, the majority groups described the symbol as a “distinctive emblem for neo-fascist and white supremacist movements” that dominates the entire square, spanning four separate addresses. They noted the cross was first painted in 2017 but, despite residents’ appeals, was never officially removed, only fading over time.
Municipal President Laddaga stated that, as last year, he has written to the national social security institute (INPS) to request the removal. He explained the municipality cannot act directly because the area is private condominium property, making the INPS, as the owner, responsible.
For 47 years, a ceremony has been held at precisely 6 p.m. every January 7 at Acca Larentia, attended by hundreds of far-right militants, predominantly from the Casapound group. The event features the chanting of the victims’ names, a triple cry of “presente,” and the Roman salute. Each year, a security operation is also repeated: police cordon off the area to prevent clashes with participants from counter, anti-fascist demonstrations. In recent years, police have also begun identifying individuals who perform the illegal Roman salute.