On the occasion of the National Day of Italian Labour Sacrifices in the World, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, sent a message of solidarity to the commemoration held at the Monongah mining site in the United States, where on 6 December 1907, one of the most tragic events in the history of Italian labour abroad occurred, alongside the Marcinelle disaster.
“The duty of remembrance deeply connects us to the catastrophe of Monongah,” stated the Minister, recalling that “hundreds of Italian miners lost their lives on that occasion while contributing to the economic growth of the country that had welcomed them and to the well-being of their families, often left behind in their home villages in Italy.”
In the message sent to Vincenzo Arcobelli, the U.S. member of the General Council of Italians Abroad, and read by the Consul General of Italy in Philadelphia, Cristiana Mele, the Minister emphasised the “central role of a vast community of Italian nationals and Italian descendants who are fully integrated into the political, economic, social, and cultural life of the United States, yet remain firmly connected to their Italian roots.” He expressed his and the Government’s recognition of “Italian workers around the world and the representative bodies of the community for the great service they render to our country, even in this way.”
