The doors of the "Giuseppe Mercalli" scientific high school in Naples remained closed today. No one was present, no classes were held. Only locked gates and a circular from the principal, Daniela Paparella, who decided to suspend all activities "indefinitely" for reasons of safety and public order.
The measure came after a group of students expressed their intention to peacefully occupy the school in solidarity with the Palestinian people, following the example of other Neapolitan schools. But the principal, informed of the students' intentions, preferred to preempt the situation: "This school will not open its doors until further notice ," the official statement reads, " due to the presence, within the premises of the school, of individuals outside the school community who have expressed their intention to occupy the building."
According to the statement, these individuals had assumed "threatening behavior ," posing "a potential and serious risk to the safety of students and staff." This version, however, the students openly dispute: "The unrelated individuals cited are two former Mercalli students ," they explain, " young people who shared the pro-Gaza initiative with us. None of them were dangerous, and none of them threatened anyone. We had guaranteed that the occupation would be peaceful and had even promised to compensate for any damages."
Before school closed, the principal attempted mediation with the protesters, suggesting turning the occupation into an open assembly. But the dialogue quickly broke down, without an agreement. "Yesterday, " the students said, " we were ordered to remove the Gaza solidarity banner hanging outside the school. Today we find ourselves with the gates closed and our right to education denied."
The closure of the Mercalli Institute has reignited the debate, in Naples and beyond, over the fine line between freedom of expression and public order in schools. Meanwhile, students have announced that their protests will continue: "What happened today is an injustice. We will continue to make our voices heard."
Chronicles of Campania
Naples, The case of the “L. Vanvitelli” school: caretaker’s accommodation occupied illegally since 1988, damage to the public purse of almost 93 thousand euros
Illegal occupations, uncollected debts. Carabinieri and Court of Auditors checks on years of accumulated arrears.
