Libero Grassi

Who was Libero Grassi?

Libero Grassi was an Italian clothing manufacturer from Palermo, Sicily, who was killed by the Mafia after taking a solitary stand against their extortion demands. The businessman wrote an open letter to the local newspaper informing the extortionists that he was no longer willing to pay "pizzo", a Sicilian term for protection money. Despite his brave stance against the Mafia, other business owners and shop keepers in Palermo refused to join his campaign. Grassi was gunned down in the street near his home eight months after writing the letter.

Grassi, who was born in Catania, was married and had a son and daughter. Following his death, his family have continued his campaign lending their support to the Addiopizzo movement, which is against pizzo.