NAPLES – Three years after his death, Naples once again remembers Giovanbattista Cutolo, the 24-year-old musician killed on August 31, 2023, during a fight between teenagers, after he intervened to defend a friend. A memorial ceremony was held this morning in Piazza Municipio, attended by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, Campania Regional President Roberto Fico, Mayor Gaetano Manfredi, and Naples Prefect Michele Di Bari.
Two wreaths were laid next to the plaque dedicated to Cutolo, on a day that combined remembrance with a call for concrete commitment to combating youth violence.
"It is an immeasurable pain because it is the result of an intolerable injustice," Fico said, emphasizing the need to address the cultural, social, and economic causes that can fuel such tragedies. "We, as institutions, have a duty to ensure that the causes of these tragedies are definitively eliminated," he added.
Manfredi echoed this sentiment, calling Giogiò's death "a wound" for the city. "We must continue to pursue the recovery of our children, respecting and affirming the values of democracy and legality," the mayor stated, emphasizing the role of schools, education, and social work in preventing violence.
Minister Piantedosi also announced an institutional collaboration with the "Giogiò Vive" association, founded by the young man's mother, Daniela Di Maggio. "We will soon reach an agreement, a form of collaboration that will institutionalize the work of Daniela Di Maggio and the Giogiò association, so that it can also become an operational tool for the Ministry of the Interior," the minister explained. The goal is to support legal education and prevention initiatives.
During the ceremony, Daniela Di Maggio also appealed to local governments to name some places in the city in memory of her son. "Instead of calling it Piazzale Tecchio, let's call it Piazzale Giovanbattista Cutolo. Let's start from here," she said.
The third anniversary thus becomes not only a moment of remembrance, but also a reminder of the responsibility of institutions and the community. Giogiò's name continues to be linked to the fight for legality and the need to offer young people concrete alternatives to violence.
Key points on the commemoration of Giovanbattista Cutolo
Here is a summary of the main points that emerged during the memorial ceremony for Giovanbattista Cutolo in Naples.
- Commemoration date: The ceremony was held on August 31, three years after his death.
- Institutional presences: The Minister of the Interior, the President of the Campania Region, the Mayor of Naples, and the Prefect attended.
- Request for commitment: Authorities have stressed the need to address the causes of youth violence.
- Collaboration with the association: A future collaboration between the Ministry of the Interior and the 'Giogiò vive' association has been announced.
- Appeal for naming: Giovanbattista's mother asked that some places in the city be named in memory of her son.
