St. Mark's vandals are four students, two from the Academy. Zaia calls for exposure to public ridicule

The vandals who defaced one of the small lions in Piazzetta San Marco in Venice on the night of Sept. 29 have been identified. They were denounced by a 20-year-old student who was part of the group of defaceers and was assailed by guilt over what they did. According to what she told the Venice Carabinieri, the young men, all in their early 20s and students (two from the University and two from the Academy of Fine Arts) allegedly carried out the act after an alcoholic evening: in addition to the girl who reported the incident, two boys and another girl were present with her. The latter was stopped in Trento, while the other two were traced to Venice.

Harsh comments were made by the mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, and the governor, Luca Zaia. The former calls for the culprits to do community work performed in front of everyone: “The city does not ask for revenge, but for just compensation with public social work in front of everyone.” The second goes even harder: “Bravo to the Carabinieri who did it quickly and well. They identified and brought to justice the four uncivilized people who daubed the lions of San Marco with red paint the other night. Venice is unique in the world and deserves equal respect. They deserve a severe punishment that is the maximum allowed by law, but also to be exposed in some way to public ridicule so that they have a chance to be ashamed to the right degree!!!” But perhaps it is worth remembering and emphasizing that the Italian penal code does not allow so-called “infamous punishments” such as, precisely, exposure to public ridicule.

Pictured: one of the lions in Piazzetta San Marco. Credit

St. Mark's vandals are four students, two from the Academy. Zaia calls for exposure to public ridicule

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