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Angelo Vassallo Is Not a Catwalk The Fisherman Mayor's Brothers Boycott the Commemoration in Acciaroli 2026 09 04

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Acciaroli – Exactly sixteen years after the night when crime claimed the life of Angelo Vassallo, the atmosphere in Acciaroli is far from peaceful. On the eve of the September 5th anniversary, the "Fisherman Mayor" Foundation has chosen to break its silence, lashing out against official celebrations and announcing a shocking decision: the family will not participate in any public commemoration in the Cilento town.

The complaint: "The murder site has been left in a state of disrepair."

The Foundation's president, Dario Vassallo, and vice president Massimo, brothers of Pollica's former mayor, explained the reasons for the rift. In a video shared on social media, the two representatives denounced the state of neglect and curatorship in which the exact spot where Angelo was shot in 2010 is reportedly left for the rest of the year. They described this condition as "squalid and unworthy," revealing the hypocritical nature of institutional anniversaries.

"We cannot accept that place being forgotten for 364 days and then filled with words, photographs, and celebrations on September 5th," the Vassallo brothers explain. This criticism follows years of criticism directed at the Pollica municipal administration, accused of superficial management of symbols associated with the mayor's memory, from Capano Castle to the "Great Wave" sculpture, to the "Giglio Marino" area.

The attack on politics: "Anniversaries transformed into catwalks"

The breaking point coincides with the rejection of what is being branded as mere propaganda. For the Foundation, the celebrations have now become a formal ritual devoid of substance. "Remembering Angelo only on September 5th is like going to Mass at Christmas after sinning for an entire year," Dario Vassallo attacks. "It's become rhetoric, a political parade. But for us, it's not a show: it's raw pain. Tomorrow will be sixteen years, but for our family, only sixteen seconds have passed."

The battle for the truth continues

Against the backdrop of the protest, the fundamental question that has been awaiting an answer since 2010 remains unanswered: who killed Mayor Pescatore and why? The brothers reiterate that the search for the culprits cannot be overshadowed by an institutional parade, because "a wreath of flowers can never replace truth and justice."

The Foundation assures us that Angelo Vassallo's memory will live on through the daily narrative of his ideas, his work, and his vision for protecting the territory. But far from superficial ceremonies: until the places of his sacrifice receive the respect they deserve, his family will not be present in Acciaroli.