The Power of Solidarity

Good afternoon everyone, thanks for being here.

I’d like to begin my speech with a statement that might seem obvious but is deeply significant: solidarity was fundamental to my liberation.

When I was detained in Hungary, cut off from the outside world, solidarity was the invisible but real thread that connected me to my comrades, my family, and to a broader community of people who believed in justice. Without this collective effort, I would not be here today as a free person.

I will now try to tell you how solidarity was key in my story and what we could possibly learn from it.

When I was first detained in Budapest, with very limited means of communicating with the outside world, I had no clear sense of what was happening beyond the prison walls.

In my heart, I knew that my closest comrades were vigilant about my case, offering material and emotional support to me and my family.

One of the most extraordinary principles of our leftist world is the ethical commitment to solidarity—ensuring no one is left behind, particularly when they fall victim to repression.

Like so many before me, I experienced the warm embrace of solidarity firsthand.

However, during my time inside, I had little access to Italian news or television, and thus my understanding of what was happening outside was limited. Occasionally, fragments of the outside world reached me. For example, once, Hungarian news broadcasted a clip of my father condemning the conditions of my detention, and I received Zerocalcare’s comics about the events in Budapest, though always months late. These were deeply moving moments.

Even more moving were the times I saw friends and comrades in the courtroom audience. Despite knowing they’d only see me briefly, from a great distance, they still travelled all the way to Budapest to be present. A glance, a smile, a moment of encouragement—these gestures meant everything to me in that moment.

When you are imprisoned, such acts are immensely powerful. Knowing you’re not alone makes a significant difference to your psychological resilience.

When I was finally allowed phone calls, my parents shared stories about the incredible network of solidarity being built outside. Even then, I only partially grasped the scope of it.

Inside the prison, I began to witness the tangible effects of solidarity. As my case gained visibility and became a public issue, the treatment I received in prison began to improve. Solidarity, in this sense, became not just a source of comfort but also a tool of political pressure.

When I was released—first under house arrest and later as a free person—I saw with my own eyes the scale of the solidarity I had received. I was astonished.

The social energy of solidarity had grown far beyond anything I could have imagined. It took me time to fully comprehend its breadth, and even now, I’m sure there are aspects I don’t fully understand.

Over the months, countless people—some I knew, many I didn’t—had contributed in countless ways, all with one common goal: to secure my freedom.

Some worked within their collectives or committees, others organized fundraisers or theater performances. Some participated in demonstrations, while others simply talked to friends or family to raise awareness.

This collective force expressed itself through a remarkable diversity of actions, all working in synergy.

I am convinced that the key to this victorious solidarity was its collective nature—its ability to bring together multiple approaches and practices without one excluding the other.

This, unfortunately, is not always a given. If we want solidarity to be effective, it’s a political challenge we must address:

How do we harmonize diverse forms of solidarity? How do we make them coexist? How can differences become strengths rather than obstacles?

One of the immediate challenges we face now is creating the conditions for a similar dynamic of solidarity for all those who need to be defended against repression.

To conclude, I want to reiterate that solidarity is not just a foundational value of our political movement—it is a crucial ingredient in the vision of society we strive to build.

Solidarity extends beyond our circles; it must encompass everyone we aim to involve in the fight against capitalism.

If struggle is one side of the coin of our political mission, solidarity is the other.

Expanding solidarity advances the cause of class struggle and the fight for the oppressed. It offers a tangible way to combat the principles of competition under capitalism and the domination inherent in fascism.

Solidarity is the constructive energy we need to build a better, freer, and fairer society.

Thank you.