On October 10 in Milan, in front of the Cathedral, 1300 show business workers all dressed in black took to the square and occupied it with 500 empty trunks. These trunks called Flight cases generally contain all the tools necessary for setting up a show, electrical cables, microphones, amplifiers …

As new Covid-19 lockdowns force the closure of theaters and and other cultural locations, protests erupt in Italy.

Their protest called “Bauli in Piazza”, joins the American movement known as “We make events”, created to support workers in the music field. The protests highlight the profession as being the last to reopen after the spring lockdown and the first to close with the new decree.

There was silence in the square, interspersed with drumming on trunks and applause.

Due to Covid-19 in March, the whole of Italy stopped. Everything closed – from the small shop under the house, to non-essential factories, cinemas and theaters. As restrictions slowly lifted, the places of culture were the last to reopen.

Savoring the luxury of dreaming in a theater stalls or in a cinema, or walking admiring works of art, filled the hearts of citizens with joy.

Italy is a people of culture who love opera. A people who on Christmas does not miss the latest releases at the cinema. And, as a cutlure, Italy boasts a large number of exhibitions and museums.

Entertainment workers have worked hard to ensure safety and to restore the people’s confidence to buy tickets and attend small concerts or plays.

The number of infections that occurred in cinemas and theaters is almost zero, but the government decided that they would be the first to close their doors.

The hustle and bustle of workers and artists was immediately felt with appeals and petitions.

The state is not providing an financial help to artists, theater and cinema directors, the staff behind concerts, film crews, costume designers, sound engineers, screenwriters and others in the industry. All of which is very disheartening.

In a world that, now more than ever, needs to dream and to escape from everyday stress, culture must not be allowed to die.

More than ten thousand employees signed a letter addressed to the Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and the Minister of Cultural Heritage citing the importance of these places. Stressing how they are vital to keeping the spirit of citizens alive, and pointing out the hard work done to ensure distances and safety.

With the new decree of November 3, museums will also close their doors, leaving an unbridgeable void.

People will find themselves more satiated with all the supermarkets always open, however with closed museums, theaters, cinemas, show halls and schools, the heart and soul always more empty.

The post COVID: The Death of Culture in Italy appeared first on CitizenNewsWire.

Millions of Nigerians continue taking to the streets, and to social media under the hashtag #ENDSARS, protesting against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a branch of the Nigeria Police Force. Even as the demonstrations against the alleged brutality by the group escalate, more casualties are being reported by local media.

Reports of armed thugs attacking protesters in the capital, Lagos, and the military opening fire on peaceful protestors signify that the campaigns could be turning ugly. As reported by Sky News, the police allegedly shot at demonstrators in the city’s Lekki suburb on Tuesday, sparking anger amongst its supporters on social media.

In the northern state of Kano, the death of a 17-year-old teenager at the hands of the police has sparked even more protests. Both Benin City and the Edo state government have declared an indefinite curfew in light of reported attacks and vandalism.

Protests against brutality, harassment, and murder

SARS, formed during the 1984 military rule, has long been accused of extortion, torture, and murder. However, it was not until just recently that a series of videos of individuals allegedly being killed by police surfaced online.

Immediately after the videos, the campaign gained fame with Nigerians creating shockwaves on Twitter with #ENDSARS trending for days. The government finally gave in and disbanded the notorious group.

But the disbandment, according to the protestors, isn’t enough and has since morphed into calls for wider reforms in the government. Already, there’s a 24-hour curfew on the 20 million people who live in Lagos, the heartbeat of the protests. Despite the restrictions, the protests show little sign of slowing down.

Lots of local and international celebrities have joined a growing list in support of the protests. The list includes Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, artists Diddy, Kanye West, Trey Songz, Tiwa Savage, Widkid, and Davido, and others.

Sports superstars led by Mesut Ozil, Marcus Rashford, and countless Nigerian internationals have also been at the forefront, voicing their support for the demonstrations.

The latest hashtags, #EndBadGovernance, #BetterNigeria, and #FixNigeriaNow, and a series of diaspora protests in Canada, England, Germany and the United States signifies a new twist. It remains to be seen how the protests will go.

Meanwhile, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has promised comprehensive reform and compensation to victims of the brutality.

The post #ENDSARS Protests Turn Ugly as More Celebrities Voice Support appeared first on CitizenNewsWire.