DR ‹ › In Italy, a nightclub bouncer and the venue's owner are on trial over the words «Blacks and Moroccans are not allowed», local media said. The case dates back to August, 2022, at the Marina Bay nightclub in Marina di Ravenna, a coastal town in Italy, where a 16-year-old boy born in Ethiopia and adopted by an Italian family was denied entry despite holding a valid ticket for a concert by rapper Capo Plaza. According to the complaint, he was told to stand aside with other Black youths who had also been refused access. The boy's mother filed a complaint the following day, prompting a judicial investigation. Prosecutors allege that two security guards barred the teenagers from entering solely on the basis of their skin color and origins. The club's owner is also accused of denying a 20-year-old man a free drink included with his ticket after allegedly discovering his Moroccan background. The case has now gone to trial, with the indictment charging the bouncers and the nightclub's owner with incitement to racial hatred. The hearing was adjourned this week in order to locate one of the defendants, who is currently abroad. The nightclub's management has denied any racist motive, arguing that the refusals were based on security concerns linked to alleged incidents on previous nights. Several civil parties have joined the case, including the victim, now an adult, and the anti-racism association Mamme per la pelle, which played a key role in bringing the case to public attention.
