AIDS, BANK ROBBING AND THE STRUGGLE FOR DIGNITY
Since 1993 a loophole in Italian law protects its citizens with terminal
illness, including AIDS, from imprisonment. Until the Italian Justice
Ministry gets around to closing the loophole, certain valiant individuals,
most notably three young men from Rome who have AIDS, have been taking
full advantage. Sergio Magnis, Ferdinando Attanasio and Antonio La Marra,
rob banks for survival and as a statement to keep their problems as people
living with AIDS "a live issue." Each having been denied employment,
sufficient health care or promised government subsidies, have taken
matters into their own hands by robbing banks. They robbed a number of
banks unmasked in broad daylight, in full view of security cameras,
knowing they won't be imprisoned. No one has been hurt or injured. In their
most recent heist, they managed to stash 12 grand before being caught.
They say they'd rather rob banks than beg or go hungry. We won't argue
with that!