9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Piera, a resident in Poggio alla Croce 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 In these last few years a lot has changed 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Things were different before, people were simpler 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They often came into the centre. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Now they stay at home, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the village is less lived in. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Before we were all concentrated on my shop. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Most of the world, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 most of life took place around it. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 A place to meet, to understand each other, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 maybe argue with different opinions 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but still have a dialogue. That was life, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in my view that really was. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Andrea, who conceived the welcoming project 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Poggio alla Croce could be defined 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 as “a small Switzerland” 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Located in a beautiful spot 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 between Chianti and Valdarno 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Residents are busy at work 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and like to collaborate. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 In summer a nice festival is organized 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 attracting people from both valleys 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 When problems arise, like with ice in winter, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 informations flow over the internet. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Looked like and ideal place 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Then in April 2017 the “bomb” went off: 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 thirty migrants to be hosted in the “palace”, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 a former hotel middle of village 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It sounded as if a spaceship full 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 of little black men was about to land 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Piera 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Black men are coming. Black men are coming. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We are all with our hairs raised, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 very worried, me too to be honest because 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 you hear a lot of good 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but also bad about these youngsters 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Andrea 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The strongest reaction, intense and wide, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 was an immediate refusal, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 a “belly” reaction that caused 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 an immediate decision 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to collect signatures against, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in less than three days 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 230 signatures were collected 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Even though the Poggio’s residents 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 are around 190. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Attilia, a teacher in the the school for migrants 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 A first meeting was held 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 one and half year ago in summer 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 before the migrants arrived, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 so we did not know them 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They had no face for us, they had no name 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I don’t live in Poggio alla Croce, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I come from a nearby village 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 During the meeting there were 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 some very aggressive people, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I guess they were sincerely scared 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Martin, parson of Poggio alla Croce 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Their reaction was not due to being bad. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Behind there was also a reality 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that must be told. It must be told that 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 none was pepared because none 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 had been alerted that these foreigner, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 these migrants were coming 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Paolo, a resident in Poggio alla Croce 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Someone started collecting signatures, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and I agreed only because I wanted to know 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 where would these kids be hosted, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 what did they come for then it became 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 clear that this was not the reason 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 they did not want to welcome them 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So I said my signature was extorted 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and was not in agreement any more 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Luana, a resident in Poggio alla Croce 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They told us 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 “in a year time we’ll remind you of this.. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we are scared.. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I have an 18months old little girl 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 who won’t be able to walk the streets anymore” 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But I refused to sign in 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and became the black sheep 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Paolo 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They are black, and that may be difficult to fathom 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Integration is not easy, not easy. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Also on their side 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Attilia 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 There was a bad feeling around, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 a terrible atmosphere 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 My legs trembled, truly. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I recognized kids that I knew 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 when they were little children. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And now as grown ups they were scared 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and said they did not want the migrants 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 because their life would change, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it would not be possible 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 anymore to go quietly around in Poggio. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 No more walkabouts but they shouted 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 all this in a really aggressive way.. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and I started to tremble and was unable 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to tell what I meant, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that I felt very sorry to see children 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 who had grown up together 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 accustomed to sharing…and I remember 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 there were also coloured children 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in our classes and they all played together 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And now I was frightened 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 by what they had become 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Was more scared of them than 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 of the coming migrants because 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I could sense a rage and violence 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that really frightened me