Francesco Fantin
Francesco Fantin was an Italian anti-fascist activist who emigrated to Australia in 1924 and found work in Queensland as a cane cutter. He remained politically active as an anti-fascist organiser and fundraiser. In 1942 he was placed in a World War II internment camp where he was killed under suspicious circumstances. His killer, Giovanni Casotti, was ultimately convicted of manslaughter,[1] but stood informally accused of murder by Communists who considered Fantin an ally, and an enemy of both Mussolini and Hitler.[2] His death became the subject of a bilingual play written by Teresa Crea, entitled Red Like the Devil.[3] It was performed in 1991 by Adelaide-based theatre company, Doppio Teatro.[4] Performances were staged at Loveday, near Barmera, where Fantin was interned and died.[5]
References
- "ADMITS KILLING". The Recorder. Port Pirie, SA. 23 December 1942. p. 1. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- "ANTI-FASCIST MURDERED Political Terrorism In S.A." The Tribune. Sydney. 30 December 1942. p. 1. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- Crea, Teresa (1991). Red Like the Devil.
- "GOOD TIMES". Canberra Times. 22 August 1991. p. 13. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- "No title". Canberra Times. 17 October 1991. p. 13. Retrieved 23 August 2017.