Mario Adinolfi was heavily challenged late Saturday afternoon after the presentation of his book Against Abortion with 17 Rules for Living Happily. We are in Jesi, in the Marche region, outside the church of San Nicolò, where a group of activists waited for the Popolo della Famiglia exponent to leave in order to make their displeasure at his presence heard. A presence that was also deemed inappropriate by the regional councilwoman Manuela Bora. Namely, after the announcement of the initiative, she publicly declared her disappointment and reiterated that in a post on Facebook: “It is not surprising that Adinolfi chooses the Marche region to present his book against abortion,” she wrote. “He has evidently understood very well how here, starting with Acquaroli’s misogynistic and intolerant right-wing victory at the 2020 regionals, his obscurantist ideas on the termination of pregnancy find total institutional coverage.”
Manuela Bora then continued, again referring to Adinolfi’s presentation, “Initiative perfectly in line with the statements of the regional right-wingers governing the Marche Region, whose policies threaten women’s freedom of choice and self-determination. Women who some would see well within the walls of the home, engaged exclusively in taking care of their children. Women who if they decide not to have an abortion, but then choose to entrust their child to a hospital, guaranteeing its safety and security, are still not only judged but immediately condemned.” And, she concluded, “Unfortunately, these initiatives are very dangerous, because they only serve to build a favorable climate for those who, even in our region, want to demolish Law 194 step by step and prevent women from being guaranteed the rights it enshrines.”
After the contestation, it was Adinolfi himself who posted the video which showed him pelted with insults and whistles, forced to leave the square escorted by police. The video was accompanied with a comment that directly targeted councilwoman Bora: “A regional Democratic Party councilwoman points to the presentation of a book and its author. As a result, violent mob tried to prevent it, targeting the writer who once again was able to speak and walk in Jesi solely thanks to the police and carabinieri escort. I am the only Italian writer who can present his books only if there is an escort. Let’s ask why. And the Democratic Party should be ashamed.””