Naples. - Exactly three years after the tragic death of Giovanbattista Cutolo, known to all as "Giogiò," the city of Naples once again gathers around the memory of the young horn player of the Scarlatti Young Orchestra, killed at just 24 years old in Piazza Municipio after intervening to break up a fight.
The commemoration ceremony, held in the presence of Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, became a moment of intense civic reflection and concrete proposals for the city's toponymy.
The mother's proposal: "Rename the squares to convey her message."
Giogiò's mother, Daniela Di Maggio, took the occasion of the commemoration to launch a direct appeal to the mayor and the administrators present. The goal is to transform personal remembrance into a collective and formative one for the city.
For me, memory is fundamental; we must never forget Giogiò's martyrdom and what he did. He brought the 'we' element to our ego-centric society, so I have a duty to convey his message. I would like to ask the mayor and all the mayors present to change the street names: we still have spaces dedicated to those who wrote the racial laws or lived through the twenty-year Fascist period. Instead of calling it Piazzale Tecchio, let's call it Piazzale Giovanbattista Cutolo. Let's start from here too.
Manfredi: "We need an alliance between institutions and schools to fight the epidemic of violence."
Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi emphasized the need for a comprehensive response that combines legality and the social rehabilitation of at-risk youth, so that Giogiò's sacrifice doesn't remain an isolated one.
The mayor emphasized that youth violence represents a genuine social emergency, which must be addressed by offering concrete alternatives to those who are choosing the wrong path due to a lack of opportunities. According to Manfredi, the best way to pay tribute to the musician is to ensure the unified presence of institutions and citizens, working towards a safer city, focused on the future of its young people.
Borrelli: "We remember the boy, not just the martyr."
Particularly touching was the contribution of the Green and Left Alliance MP Francesco Emilio Borrelli, who drew attention to the extraordinary normality of Giovanbattista and the absurdity of his loss.
Borrelli highlighted how his mother, Daniela, transformed devastating grief into a battle for civility, promoting prevention and music education as antidotes to street violence. The MP reiterated that institutions have a duty to protect young people before they become symbols, guaranteeing them the right to live their lives, their passions, and their dreams in safety.
