Will the ‘red zones’ in Milan increase inequality?

Recently, the Ministry of the Interior invited prefects across Italy to identify the most frequented yet problematic areas in terms of security in the country’s major cities, proposing the establishment of “red zones” to keep potentially dangerous individuals away. The plan, officially announced on Monday, December 30, had actually been communicated to the relevant offices about two weeks earlier. For this reason, in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, extraordinary security measures were announced in Milan, effective until March. Initially, these measures surprised many residents due to the lack of an official explanation linking them to the ministerial directive. It was predictable that Milan would adopt special measures for December 31, given the large influx of people. Furthermore, in 2022, Milan witnessed a major case of group sexual violence in Piazza Duomo during New Year’s celebrations. However, it was unexpected that the recent extraordinary measures – effectively granting greater powers to the police forces – would last until spring. The “red zones” in question include areas around the Centrale, Garibaldi, and Rogoredo stations, as well as the Darsena, Navigli, and Piazza Duomo: all areas heavily frequented, even in the evening, by both tourists and residents due to the high concentration of venues.

The security plan to ensure that New Year’s Eve celebrations in Milan would be safe involved deploying over 800 officers, including police, carabinieri, finance officers, and local police. A significant portion of checks focused on Piazza Duomo, where approximately 20,000 people gathered. As reported by MilanoToday, law enforcement checked just over a thousand individuals and issued around 50 expulsion orders (0.25%), “but there were no major issues,” summarized the local outlet. Nevertheless, some videos went viral on social media showing several youths on the steps of the equestrian statue of Vittorio Emanuele II, in the center of Piazza Duomo, which had been cordoned off to prevent accidents or vandalism. In one of the most commented and shared clips, for example, among other things, a boy of foreign origin or a second-generation Italian is heard saying “f*** Italy.” The remark sparked significant controversy, especially in conservative online circles, even though it was likely made provocatively: in perfect “Maranza” style. However, it quickly became a tool for political propaganda, aimed at fueling racial and classist insecurities and prejudices.

Milan’s struggles with integration

For some time, right-wing parties, both locally and nationally, have accused the center-left – which has governed Milan since 2011 – of neglecting issues related to integration, urban decay, and security in the city. Critics argue that the policies implemented by Beppe Sala’s administration are too permissive, fostering violence and vandalism, particularly in some parts of the city. The center-left, on the other hand, claims to be addressing the deeper causes of these problems rather than merely implementing repressive measures. Progressive parties highlight the lack of concrete opportunities for many youths in the suburbs, including many second-generation Italians who often find themselves in socially and economically marginalized situations. Milan has long struggled with inequalities, which sometimes escalate into public order issues. Despite crime rates declining across the province for years, observers note that minor criminal acts in certain neighborhoods are just one of the many consequences of growing socioeconomic disparities.

In this context, the possible foreign origins of some of the youths involved in vandalism or violence in Milan are often emphasized by right-wing figures and supporters, interpreting them as proof of the alleged failures of integration policies. Others, however, urge a different reflection, pointing out that in such cases, ethnicity plays a less significant role compared to toxic masculinity, which permeates all levels of society and often fuels attitudes of dominance, disregard for rules, and a quest for superiority. This is precisely what occurred on New Year’s Eve in Piazza Duomo in Milan and, to a greater extent, in 2022. The recent establishment of “red zones” was presented as a special measure to ensure greater safety by excluding individuals perceived as threatening from the most crowded and sought-after central areas. However, the initiative has been heavily criticized by organizations supporting marginalized and vulnerable individuals, due to the broad discretion granted to law enforcement, which could potentially remove anyone. According to some, the risk is that this may exacerbate existing discrimination against non-white people, further fueling inequalities and subsequent episodes of petty crime.