Danilo Dolci’s activism made a significant impact on the practice of peaceful protest in Italy. His inspirational nature is reflected in his nickname, the “Sicilian Gandhi,” aptly given for his commitment to nonviolent action. Through hunger strikes and reverse strikes, community organization and education, as well as published literature, Dolci made significant progress towards improving life in Sicily.
Italy
Addiopizzo: Sicily’s Anti-Mafia Movement, Past and Present
The anti-mafia movement is often associated with the actions of the Italian police and criminal justice system against the mafia, but grassroots approaches to anti-mafia work have an even longer history. The Addiopizzo movement is the most recent in a long legacy of Sicilians organizing against the mafia.