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The businessman who defied the Italian Mafia

In 1991, Palermo businessman Libero Grassi was killed in Sicily for publicly refusing to pay protection money to the Mafia.

In 1991, Palermo businessman Libero Grassi published an open letter in Sicily鈥檚 main newspaper denouncing the Mafia for constantly demanding extortion payments. Grassi was hailed as a hero, but his public refusal to pay was intolerable to the Mafia and a few months later he was executed in person by one of Cosa Nostra鈥檚 top bosses. Libero Grassi鈥檚 defiance is credited with inspiring a new grass-roots movement among businesses in Sicily that stands up to the Mafia. Simon Watts talks to his daughter, Alice Grassi.

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9 minutes

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Fri 6 Sep 2019 12:50GMT

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  • Fri 6 Sep 2019 07:50GMT
  • Fri 6 Sep 2019 12:50GMT

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