Soledad Rosas

María Soledad Rosas was an Argentine activist who was falsely charged with eco-terrorism in Italy. Soon after arriving in Turin in 1997, she became involved in the squatting movement, staying at a self-managed social centre named Asilo. She attended protests and lived as a squatter. In March 1998, she was arrested by Italian law enforcement, along with her boyfriend, Edoardo Massari, and Silvano Pelissero. They were accused of being affiliated with an organisation called Lupi Grigi that authorities said had been sabotaging construction sites for the Treno Alta Velocità. The activists maintained their innocence but were branded eco-terrorists in the media. Massari hanged himself in his cell later that month. Rosas was released to house arrest and hanged herself on 11 July.

Early life and education

María Soledad Rosas was born on 23 May 1974 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was the second of two daughters of Marta Rey de Rosas and Luis Rosas, a descendent of Juan Manuel de Rosas. She attended the Río de la Plata school in Barrio Norte and rode horses at her family's farm in Pilar. She earned income as a dogwalker while she was in school. She attended the University of Belgrano, earning a degree in hotel management. She spoke five languages and was apolitical. ==Trip to Italy==

Trip to Italy

Rosas arrived in Italy in July 1997. She travelled with her friend Silvia Gramático around the country, arriving in Turin after a few days. Looking for a place to sleep, they found an anarchist self-managed social centre that directed them to the squat Asilo (Asylum). Rosas was fascinated with the lifestyle of the squatters and became immersed in their community, adopting a vegetarian diet. Later in the autumn, she started a relationship with Italian anarchist Edoardo "Baleno" Massari. She married fellow anarchist Luca Bruno in order to obtain Italian citizenship. Rosas and Massari joined their friends in Spain for the final two weeks of 1997. ==Arrest, detention and death==

Arrest, detention and death

A stretch for the Treno Alta Velocità high-speed rail network between Turin and Lyon crosses the Italian Alps' Susa Valley. Since 1996, construction of the rail has met opposition, from protests to direct action, with multiple incidents of infrastructure sabotage. Sixteen incidents of sabotage took place early in 1998. Following Massari's death Rosas was released into house arrest in May and was transferred to Sottoiponti, a farm and facility for AIDS patients and addiction recovery in Bene Vagienna. She was visited by her family and her Italian friends. She insisted on her innocence and planned to remain in Italy. Unless the prosecution could make a strong case, Rosas and Pelissero were to be released on 5 September. Instead, on 6 July, the prosecution charged them with arson and theft. ==Aftermath==

Aftermath

The incarceration and deaths of Massari and Rosas mobilised the Italian anarchist community. Rosas was considered a hero among squatters and became an icon of the Italian anarchist movement. The legal case against Rosas was marred by evidence tampering, including editing of the activists' conversations in an attempt to link them to the Grey Wolves group. An arsenal police alleged they had found in the Turin squat never materialised and it was proven that Rosas was not in the country when the arson attack occurred. Both Rosas and Massari were acquitted. Pelissero remained imprisoned until 2002 when the case was dropped due to inconsistencies in the evidence that was presented. ==In popular culture==

In popular culture

Martín Caparrós wrote the 2003 book Amor y anarquía, la vida urgente de Soledad Rosas (Love and anarchy, the urgent life of Soledad Rosas) about Rosas. In the book, Caparrós reconstructs Rosas's life, drawing on her diaries and letters as well as conversations with her family and squatters from Italy. The song "L'ultimo gesto di liberazione" by Argentine punk band She Devils has lyrics about a letter that Rosas wrote. ==Notes==

Source: Wikipedia ↗

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