Vandalism and Resilience of Gunter Demnig's Stolpersteine in Rome
On December 9 and 10, 2018, 20 Stolpersteine created by Gunter Demnig were taken from Via Madonna dei Monti 82 in Rome. These stones, which were placed in 2012, honored the Di Castro, Di Consiglio, Di Tivoli, and Moscato families, who suffered under Nazi-fascism, including young children Cesare Elvezio (2) and Giuliana Colomba (3). Following the theft, the Rome prosecutor's office, led by deputy prosecutor Francesco Caporale, launched an investigation into the aggravated theft driven by racial hatred. The Stolpersteine were reinstated on January 15, 2019. Demnig’s initiative, which began in 1990, covers 17 European nations and 898 cities in Germany. Gabriella De Marco discussed her findings at a seminar at the University of Palermo on January 29–30, 2019.
Key facts
- 20 Stolpersteine by Gunter Demnig were vandalized in Rome on December 9–10, 2018.
- The stones were located at Via Madonna dei Monti 82, installed on January 9, 2012.
- They commemorated the Di Castro, Di Consiglio, Di Tivoli, and Moscato families.
- Victims included Cesare Elvezio (age 2) and Giuliana Colomba (age 3), killed at Auschwitz and Fosse Ardeatine.
- The Rome prosecutor's office investigated under Francesco Caporale for aggravated theft with racial hatred.
- Stones were reinstalled on January 15, 2019.
- Demnig started the project in 1990 after a denial of Sinti deportations in Cologne.
- The project spans 17 European countries and 898 German cities.
- Gabriella De Marco presented her research at a University of Palermo seminar on January 29–30, 2019.
- The article thanks Associazione Arte e Memoria and its president Adachiara Zevi.
Entities
Artists
- Gunter Demnig
- Gabriella De Marco
Institutions
- University of Palermo
- Associazione Arte e Memoria
- Dipartimento di Scienze Umanistiche dell'Ateneo di Palermo
- Artribune
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Via Madonna dei Monti 82
- Cologne
- Germany
- Austria
- Auschwitz
- Fosse Ardeatine
- Palermo