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Addiopizzo (English: "Goodbye Pizzo") is a grassroots movement established in Sicily to build a community of businesses and consumers who refuse to pay "pizzo"—Mafia extortion money.^[1]^[2] It is a grassroots social-conscience motivated consumer movement analogous to Fair Trade. The group, led by a generation whose adolescence was characterized by the murders of anti-Mafia judges, journalists and businessmen, operates in the Palermo and Catania metropolitan areas, traditionally Mafia strongholds.^[3]

History

Background

One of the first to refuse to pay protection money was Libero Grassi, a businessman from Palermo. In January 1991, he wrote an open letter to the Giornale di Sicilia, the local newspaper. Published on the front page, it was addressed to an anonymous "Dear Extortionist". It caused an uproar, and barely six months later on 29 August 1991, Grassi was murdered by the Mafia.^[4]

Launch of Addiopizzo

In 2004, Addiopizzo began with five graduates who wanted to open a bar in Palermo. Realising they would be asked to pay a Mafia tithe, they decided instead to organise against the pizzo.^[5] Frustrated with the Mafia's stranglehold on the local economy and political life, they peppered the city with stickers that were designed to mimic the look of obituary notices and that read: "A whole people who pays the pizzo is a people without dignity."^[6] They organized demonstrations wearing black T-shirts with the Addiopizzo logo, a broken circle with an X in the middle and the words consumo critico ("critical consumption").^[7]

In 2007, the association counted 210 traders and entrepreneurs as members and over 9,000 consumers committed to buying only at shops belonging to the "pizzo-free" list.^[8] Palermo police and the prefect have agreed to discreetly look after the member shops. Addiopizzo organized programs in more than 90 schools and educational institutes, with the participation of prosecutors and police. In May 2006 they organized a "pizzo-free" festival in one of Palermo's main squares.^[9] Addiopizzo made headlines around the world when it launched the pizzo-free supermarket Punto Pizzofree in Palermo, which opened in March 2008.^[10]

According to 2008 investigators' estimates, Mafia extorted more than 160 million euros every year from shops and businesses in the Palermo region, with the island of Sicily as a whole paying ten times that figure.^[1] Around 80 per cent of Sicilian businesses pay a pizzo.^[11] According to Palermo University, the pizzo averages 457 euros ($640) a month for retail traders and 578 euros for hotels and restaurants, but construction companies are asked to pay over 2,000 euros per month according to figures published in the economic daily Il Sole 24 Ore.^[2]

In 2006, Addiopizzo Catania was founded, with aims similar to those of Addiopizzo Palermo.^[12] Addiopizzo Catania works to fight against the Mafia by discouraging shop owners from paying pizzo, educating people, and challenging cultural norms. On 30 October 2012 a delegation of the European Parliament's Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption, and Money Laundering (CRIM) invited Addiopizzo Catania to submit a report of its activities, in order to underline the importance of international cooperation against organized crime.^[13]

Addiopizzo Travel

Addiopizzo Travel is a project of Addiopizzo that focuses on raising awareness among the many holidaymakers that travel to Sicily every year by helping travellers with finding "pizzo-free" hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. In addition, they run anti-mafia tours for schools, universities, and other interested parties.^[14]

References

^ ^a ^b Mafia-free supermarket defies mob extortion, The Daily Telegraph, March 8, 2008
^ ^a ^b To the Mafia's horror, pizzo-free shop opens Palermo doors Archived 2008-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, AFP, March 8, 2008
^ Sicilians grow defiant of Mafia, BBC News, April 11, 2008
^ A Bullet For a Businessman, Business Week, November 4, 1991
^ We won't pay you protection, traders tell Mafia Archived 2017-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Telegraph, April 28, 2006
^ Gross, David M. (2014). 99 Tactics of Successful Tax Resistance Campaigns. Picket Line Press. pp. 190–91. ISBN 978-1-4905-7274-1.
^ One Hundred Defiant Shopkeepers Say "We Don’t Pay Protection Money", Corriere della Sera, May 5, 2006
^ Gross, David M. (2014). 99 Tactics of Successful Tax Resistance Campaigns. Picket Line Press. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-4905-7274-1.
^ Sicilian Mafia Reeling from Police and Business Actions Archived February 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, US Embassy Cable, December 6, 2007
^ Shopkeepers revolt against Sicilian Mafia, The Observer, March 9, 2008
^ Italy's biggest business: the Mafia, The Daily Telegraph, October 24, 2007
^ Addiopizzo Catania
^ Report on the activity of "Addiopizzo Catania", by Addiopizzo Catania to the Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption and Money Laundering (CRIM), October 30, 2012
^ Addiopizzo Travel

External links

Addiopizzo website
Addiopizzo Travel website
Addiopizzo Catania English website Archived 2020-11-24 at the Wayback Machine
National Post article

[tel080308-1] Mafia-free supermarket defies mob extortion, The Daily Telegraph, March 8, 2008

[afp080308-2] To the Mafia's horror, pizzo-free shop opens Palermo doors Archived 2008-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, AFP, March 8, 2008

[bbc110408-3] Sicilians grow defiant of Mafia, BBC News, April 11, 2008

[bw041191-4] A Bullet For a Businessman, Business Week, November 4, 1991

[tel280406-5] We won't pay you protection, traders tell Mafia Archived 2017-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Telegraph, April 28, 2006

[6] Gross, David M. (2014). 99 Tactics of Successful Tax Resistance Campaigns. Picket Line Press. pp. 190–91. ISBN 978-1-4905-7274-1.

[cds050506-7] One Hundred Defiant Shopkeepers Say "We Don’t Pay Protection Money", Corriere della Sera, May 5, 2006

[8] Gross, David M. (2014). 99 Tactics of Successful Tax Resistance Campaigns. Picket Line Press. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-4905-7274-1.

[cable-9] Sicilian Mafia Reeling from Police and Business Actions Archived February 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, US Embassy Cable, December 6, 2007

[obs090308-10] Shopkeepers revolt against Sicilian Mafia, The Observer, March 9, 2008

[tel241007-11] Italy's biggest business: the Mafia, The Daily Telegraph, October 24, 2007

[12] Addiopizzo Catania

[13] Report on the activity of "Addiopizzo Catania", by Addiopizzo Catania to the Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption and Money Laundering (CRIM), October 30, 2012

[aptravel-14] Addiopizzo Travel

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+{{Short description|Grassroots Sicilian movement against Mafia extortion}}
-[[Image:Addiopizzo.png|thumb|right|Addiopizzo logo]]
+{{use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
-'''Addiopizzo''' ({{lang-en|"Goodbye Pizzo"}}) is a [[grassroots]] movement established to build a community of businesses and consumers who refuse to pay "[[Pizzo (extortion)|pizzo]]" – [[Mafia]] extortion money.<ref name=tel080308>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/08/wmafia108.xml Mafia-free supermarket defies mob extortion], The Daily Telegraph, March 8, 2008</ref><ref name=afp080308>[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jLjxsdQPEBu-zA-ytPbvYHUSyOZA To the Mafia's horror, pizzo-free shop opens Palermo doors], AFP, March 8, 2008</ref> It is a [[grassroots]] social-conscience motivated consumer movement analogous to [[Fair Trade]]. The group, led by a generation whose adolescence was characterized by the murders of anti-Mafia judges, journalists and businessmen, operates in the [[Palermo]] and [[Catania]] metropolitan area, traditionally a Mafia stronghold.<ref name=bbc110408>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7342106.stm Sicilians grow defiant of Mafia], BBC News, April 11, 2008</ref>
+[[File:Addiopizzo.png|thumb|Addiopizzo logo]]
+'''Addiopizzo''' ({{langx|en|"Goodbye Pizzo"}}) is a [[grassroots]] movement established in [[Sicily]] to build a community of businesses and consumers who refuse to pay "[[Pizzo (extortion)|pizzo]]"—[[Sicilian Mafia|Mafia]] extortion money.<ref name=tel080308>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080309174905/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2008%2F03%2F08%2Fwmafia108.xml Mafia-free supermarket defies mob extortion], The Daily Telegraph, March 8, 2008</ref><ref name=afp080308>[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jLjxsdQPEBu-zA-ytPbvYHUSyOZA To the Mafia's horror, pizzo-free shop opens Palermo doors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314010142/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jLjxsdQPEBu-zA-ytPbvYHUSyOZA |date=2008-03-14 }}, AFP, March 8, 2008</ref> It is a grassroots social-conscience motivated consumer movement analogous to [[Fair Trade]]. The group, led by a generation whose adolescence was characterized by the murders of anti-Mafia judges, [[journalists]] and businessmen, operates in the [[Palermo]] and [[Catania]] metropolitan areas, traditionally Mafia strongholds.<ref name=bbc110408>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7342106.stm Sicilians grow defiant of Mafia], BBC News, April 11, 2008</ref>
-==History==
+== History ==
+=== Background ===
-In 2004, Addiopizzo began by five graduates who wanted to open a bar in [[Palermo]]. Realising they would be asked to pay a Mafia [[tithe]], they decided instead to organise against the pizzo.<ref name=tel280406>[http://www.addiopizzo.org/public/telegraph_280406.pdf We won't pay you protection, traders tell Mafia], The Daily Telegraph, April 28, 2006</ref> Frustrated with the Mafia's stranglehold on the local economy and political life, they peppered the city with stickers that were designed to mimic the look of obituary notices and that read: "A whole people who pays the pizzo is a people without dignity."<ref>{{cite book |last=Gross|first=David M.|year=2014|title=99 Tactics of Successful Tax Resistance Campaigns|publisher=Picket Line Press|isbn=978-1490572741|pages=190–91}}</ref> They organize demonstrations wearing black T-shirts with the Addiopizzo logo, a broken circle with an X in the middle and the words "consumo critico" (critical consumption)."<ref name=cds050506>[http://www.corriere.it/english/articoli/2006/05_Maggio/03/pizzo.shtml One Hundred Defiant Shopkeepers Say "We Don’t Pay Protection Money"], Corriere della Sera, May 5, 2006</ref>
+One of the first to refuse to pay protection money was [[Libero Grassi]], a businessman from Palermo. In January 1991, he wrote an [[open letter]] to the ''[[Giornale di Sicilia]]'', the local newspaper. Published on the front page, it was addressed to an anonymous "Dear Extortionist". It caused an uproar, and barely six months later on 29 August 1991, Grassi was murdered by the Mafia.<ref name=bw041191>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041201052100/http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1991/b323820.arc.htm A Bullet For a Businessman], ''Business Week'', November 4, 1991</ref>
+=== Launch of Addiopizzo ===
-In 2007, the association counted 210 traders and entrepreneurs as members and over 9,000 consumers committed to buy only at shops belonging to the "pizzo-free" list.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gross|first=David M.|year=2014|title=99 Tactics of Successful Tax Resistance Campaigns|publisher=Picket Line Press|isbn=978-1490572741|page=141}}</ref> Palermo police and the prefect have agreed to discreetly look after the member shops. "Addiopizzo"  organized programs in more than 90 schools and educational institutes, with the participation of prosecutors and police. In May 2006 they organized a "pizzo-free" festival in one of Palermo's main squares.<ref name=cable>[http://213.251.145.96/cable/2007/12/07NAPLES129.html Sicilian Mafia Reeling from Police and Business Actions], US Embassy Cable, December 6, 2007</ref> Addiopizzo made headlines around the world when it launched a pizzo-free supermarket Punto Pizzofree in Palermo, which opened in March 2008.<ref name=obs090308>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/09/internationalcrime.italy Shopkeepers revolt against Sicilian Mafia], The Observer, March 9, 2008</ref>
+[[File:Emporio pizzo free.jpg|thumb|Shop in Palermo that refuses paying pizzo.|alt=Two shop windows. The shop signs says "PUNTO PIZZO FREE. L'EMPORIO".]]
+In 2004, Addiopizzo began with five graduates who wanted to open a bar in [[Palermo]]. Realising they would be asked to pay a Mafia tithe, they decided instead to organise against the pizzo.<ref name=tel280406>[http://www.addiopizzo.org/public/telegraph_280406.pdf We won't pay you protection, traders tell Mafia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020055449/http://www.addiopizzo.org/public/telegraph_280406.pdf |date=2017-10-20 }}, ''The Daily Telegraph'', April 28, 2006</ref> Frustrated with the Mafia's stranglehold on the local economy and political life, they peppered the city with stickers that were designed to mimic the look of obituary notices and that read: "A whole people who pays the pizzo is a people without dignity."<ref>{{cite book |last=Gross |first=David M. |year=2014 |title=99 Tactics of Successful Tax Resistance Campaigns |publisher=Picket Line Press |isbn=978-1-4905-7274-1 |pages=190–91}}</ref> They organized demonstrations wearing black T-shirts with the Addiopizzo logo, a broken circle with an X in the middle and the words ''consumo critico'' ("critical consumption").<ref name=cds050506>[http://www.corriere.it/english/articoli/2006/05_Maggio/03/pizzo.shtml One Hundred Defiant Shopkeepers Say "We Don’t Pay Protection Money"], Corriere della Sera, May 5, 2006</ref>
+In 2007, the association counted 210 traders and entrepreneurs as members and over 9,000 consumers committed to buying only at shops belonging to the "pizzo-free" list.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gross |first=David M. |year=2014 |title=99 Tactics of Successful Tax Resistance Campaigns |publisher=Picket Line Press |isbn=978-1-4905-7274-1 |page=141}}</ref> Palermo police and the prefect have agreed to discreetly look after the member shops. Addiopizzo organized programs in more than 90 schools and educational institutes, with the participation of prosecutors and police. In May 2006 they organized a "pizzo-free" festival in one of Palermo's main squares.<ref name=cable>[http://213.251.145.96/cable/2007/12/07NAPLES129.html Sicilian Mafia Reeling from Police and Business Actions] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219012128/http://213.251.145.96/cable/2007/12/07NAPLES129.html |date=February 19, 2011 }}, US Embassy Cable, December 6, 2007</ref> Addiopizzo made headlines around the world when it launched the pizzo-free supermarket Punto Pizzofree in Palermo, which opened in March 2008.<ref name=obs090308>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/mar/09/internationalcrime.italy Shopkeepers revolt against Sicilian Mafia], ''The Observer'', March 9, 2008</ref>
-The Mafia extorts more than 160 million euro a year from shops and businesses in the Palermo region, with the island as a whole paying 10 times that figure, investigators estimate.<ref name=tel080308/> Around 80 per cent of Sicilian businesses pay a pizzo.<ref name=tel241007>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/23/wmafia123.xml Italy's biggest business: the Mafia], The Daily Telegraph, October 24, 2007</ref> According to Palermo University, the pizzo averages 457 euros (640 dollars) a month for retail traders and 578 for hotels and restaurants, but construction companies are asked to pay over 2,000 euros per month according to economic daily [[Il Sole 24 Ore]]'s figures.<ref name=afp080308/>
+According to 2008 investigators' estimates, Mafia extorted more than 160 million euros every year from shops and businesses in the Palermo region, with the island of Sicily as a whole paying ten times that figure.<ref name=tel080308 /> Around 80 per cent of Sicilian businesses pay a pizzo.<ref name=tel241007>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071026022058/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2007%2F10%2F23%2Fwmafia123.xml Italy's biggest business: the Mafia], ''The Daily Telegraph'', October 24, 2007</ref> According to [[Palermo University]], the pizzo averages 457 euros ($640) a month for retail traders and 578 euros for hotels and restaurants, but construction companies are asked to pay over 2,000 euros per month according to figures published in the economic daily ''[[Il Sole 24 Ore]]''.<ref name=afp080308 />
-One of the first to refuse to pay protection money was [[Libero Grassi]], a businessman from [[Palermo]]. In January 1991, he wrote an [[open letter]] to the [[Giornale di Sicilia]], the local newspaper. Published on the front page, it was addressed to an anonymous "Dear Extortionist". It caused an uproar, and barely six months later on August 29th, 1991, Grassi was dead.<ref name=bw041191>[http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1991/b323820.arc.htm A Bullet For a Businessman], Business Week, November 4, 1991</ref>
-In 2006, Addiopizzo Catania was founded, with aims similar to those of Addiopizzo Palermo.<ref>[http://www.addiopizzocatania.org/ Addiopizzo Catania]</ref> Addiopizzo Catania works to fight against the Mafia by discouraging shop owners from paying [[pizzo (extortion)|pizzo]], educating people, and challenging cultural norms. On 30 October 2012 a delegation of the [[European Parliament]]'s Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption, and Money Laundering (CRIM) invited Addiopizzo Catania to submit a report of its activities, in order to underline the importance of international cooperation against organized crime.<ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201211/20121120ATT55946/20121120ATT55946EN.pdf Report on the activity of "Addiopizzo Catania"], by Addiopizzo Catania to the Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption and Money Laundering (CRIM), October 30, 2012</ref>
+In 2006, Addiopizzo Catania was founded, with aims similar to those of Addiopizzo Palermo.<ref>[http://www.addiopizzocatania.org/ Addiopizzo Catania]</ref> Addiopizzo Catania works to fight against the Mafia by discouraging shop owners from paying pizzo, educating people, and challenging cultural norms. On 30 October 2012 a delegation of the [[European Parliament]]'s Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption, and Money Laundering (CRIM) invited Addiopizzo Catania to submit a report of its activities, in order to underline the importance of international cooperation against organized crime.<ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201211/20121120ATT55946/20121120ATT55946EN.pdf Report on the activity of "Addiopizzo Catania"], by Addiopizzo Catania to the Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption and Money Laundering (CRIM), October 30, 2012</ref>
+== Addiopizzo Travel ==
-==Example==
+Addiopizzo Travel is a project of Addiopizzo that focuses on raising awareness among the many holidaymakers that travel to Sicily every year by helping travellers with finding "pizzo-free" hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. In addition, they run anti-mafia tours for schools, universities, and other interested parties.<ref name=aptravel>[http://www.addiopizzotravel.it/ Addiopizzo Travel]</ref>
-Addiopizzo served as an example for [[Mafia? Nein danke!]], an anti-Mafia movement in Germany, established after the [[Duisburg massacre]] in August 2007, when, in front of an Italian restaurant six people were killed in a blood feud between [['Ndrangheta]] families.<ref name=garavini>[http://www.garavini.eu/?page_id=488 The story of ''Mafia? Nein danke!''], Laura Garavini website</ref>
+== References ==
-==Addiopizzo Travel==
+{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
-Addiopizzo Travel is a project of Addiopizzo that focuses on raising awareness amongst the many holidaymakers that travel to Sicily every year by helping travellers with finding "pizzo-free" hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. In addition they run anti-mafia tours for schools, universities, and other interested parties. <ref name=aptravel>[http://www.addiopizzotravel.it], Addiopizzo Travel, </ref>
+== External links ==
-==References==
+* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080413182142/http://www.addiopizzo.org/english.asp Addiopizzo website]
-{{reflist}}
+* [http://www.addiopizzotravel.it Addiopizzo Travel website]
+* [http://www.addiopizzocatania.org/en Addiopizzo Catania English website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124061945/http://www.addiopizzocatania.org/en |date=2020-11-24 }}
-==External links==
-* [http://www.addiopizzo.org/english.asp Addiopizzo website]
-* [http://www.addiopizzocatania.org/en Addiopizzo Catania English website]
 * [http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/01/23/beating-the-mafia-at-their-own-game-after-years-of-paying-a-protection-tax-palermo-businesses-came-together-to-fight-back/ National Post article]
 {{Mafia}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Antimafia]]
+[[Category:2004 establishments in Italy]]
+[[Category:Crime in Sicily]]
+[[Category:Economy of Sicily]]
+[[Category:21st century in Sicily]]
+[[Category:History of Palermo]]
+[[Category:Organisations based in Sicily]]