Coronavirus, Italy: Female prisoners in Venice jail donate one euro each to intensive care unit

The women in Venice’s prison on the Giudecca island have taken a different approach to lockdown regulations following riots and deaths in other prisons around the country. Rather than turning to violence, they have announced that each prisoner will donate one euro to the intensive care department of the Ospedale dell’Angelo hospital in Mestre, on the mainland just across from Venice.

Just under a week ago, new lockdown regulations announced by the Italian government brought a halt to family visits in prisons. The move prompted riots in several prisons in Italy, and caused 6 inmate deaths. Determined not to follow suit and resort to violence, the female prisoners in Venice’s Giudecca prison wrote a letter in order to get their voices heard. In a sign of solidarity, they wrote that they had collected one euro from each prisoner that they wanted to donate to the local hospital.

Their letter reads:
“To get our voices heard, which seem not to be listened to, in a sign of ‘non violence’ and solidarity, we will donate to the Ospedale dell’Angelo of Mestre, collecting one euro per detainee. A cry during suffering, a gesture of hope.”

The 71 female prisoners who signed the letter hope this symbolic gesture will be recognised and will set them apart from the violent protests in other prisons.