The G8 protests in 2001

Photojournalism workshop in Genoa

The people and places of the G8 events in Genoa

24 July 2025

“Stay human”, outside of a social centre in Genoa

Photography
is an integral
part of my filmmaking studies

I recently attended a photojournalism workshop which aimed to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the violent disorder which happened during the G8 Summit in Genova in 2001. The goal of the workshop was both to remind us the events that lead to the death of Carlo Giuliani and the injuries received by other protesters and to create a series of pictures to visually narrate the events that occurred as a result of riot police.

Photography is an integral part of my filmmaking studies because they use the same visual language but in slightly different ways. Photography helps me to improve both my composition and framing because of the need to carefully place every object and character in an harmonious way. Since photographs are still, everything inside them has to be in the right place at the right time in order for them to work. It requires a careful and focused thought process before pressing the shutter. Videos are different because of the simultaneous movements that grab the viewer’s attention. Shooting photojournalism is a good experience in storytelling by shooting just a frame or a series of pictures. Only essential elements should be included in the shot and they have to be placed in a way that contributes in narrating the story.

Shooting with the group

Mark Covell talking to the group

All art forms are powerful tools with which to tell stories that can impact other people’s lives, minds and beliefs. They can promote social causes and give voice to unspoken stories. This workshop was a practical demonstration of how to use photography to keep the memory of the G8 summit events alive and also to provide information on a legal case that was silenced for many years.

In July 2001, the heads of eight of the richest and most industrialised countries in the world that were part of an international forum, met in Genoa for the 27th G8 summit. Their goal was to address global economic policies and to discuss ways in which to reduce poverty. A couple of years before that, in 1999 in Seattle, an anti-globalisation movement was born in response to those Summits. It was the beginning of a wider movement that spread throughout Europe  which aimed to discuss what globalisation could lead to. Many activists from all over Europe gathered in Genoa to peacefully protest against the summit and to proactively discuss an alternative solution to the topics.

Building in Piazza Alimonda

The Italian Government implemented security measures and declared a red zone in the centre of the city which was off-limits for the non-residents and surrounded by barricades. It had to be the correct setting in which to host the heads of the G8 nations and the residents were even asked not to hang their laundry outside their windows.

On the 20th of July 2001 many people took part in the demonstration against the summit to which riot police responded with violence, tear gas and bullets. During the disturbances, Carlo Giuliani, a young Italian activist was shot dead in Piazza Alimonda by a Carabiniere.

Some hours after that, police officers conducted night-raids at the Diaz school which was being used to accommodate some of the protesters. Before entering the school, some officers stopped in the street to attack a young British journalist, Mark Covell, who was there to meet some friends inside the school. As an independent journalist, Covell, was there to write about the G8 summit and the protests. The police officers hit and kicked him so violently that they sent him into coma and left him alone in the street.

Around 150 police then entered the school’s gym in which nearly 100 demonstrators were sleeping on the floors. The police wore helmets and carried weapons with which they beat their victims. The physical violence that occurred that night, is remembered as the “Mexican butcher shop”.
The police then incarcerated their victims and held them in a detention centre, Bolzaneto, for many days in a state of abuse and terror.

Carlo, Mark and all the other victims did not get proper justice for many years.

In 2001, I was not even born but through the testimonies of those who were there I understood the complexity and relevance of the G8 events and the impact they had on my country.
During the workshop we got to meet both Mark Covell and Carlo Giuliani’s family and his teacher. We heard their moving stories and we were able to photograph them as a part of our photojournalistic project.

On the first day we met Mark Covell at the Diaz school and it was a very intense and emotional moment. Seeing someone that went through such tremendous pain and hearing him talk about it in the place that it happened was heartbreaking. Photographing him while he spoke was difficult because I wanted to look at him in the eyes while he talked but I also had to be ready to capture the right posture and expression for my pictures.
Even though his recovery from the trauma he received and his exhaustion from the never-ending trials, Mark Covell still has admirable strength in his soul and a vital spark in his eyes.

The picture I decided to include of Mark is the one of him standing outside the Diaz school facing the street in which on that July night of 2001 where police officers tried to kill him. I captured a brief moment of reflection with him after he finished telling us his story.

Carlo Giuliani’s teacher in Piazza Manin

On the second morning we met Carlo Giuliani’s teacher, Peppino, in Piazza Manin. Peppino is an incredible 80-year-old man who is still fighting against injustice and who is still keeping Carlo’s memory alive. It was clear that Peppino is one one of those passionate teachers who are loved by their students and who see teaching as a personal mission. By listening to his enthusiasm and the love in his voice, we were able to form a picture in our mind of the school atmosphere in which Carlo Giuliani and his schoolmates studied.

“Everyone should give something so that some of us don’t have to give everything. To Carlo”

Gathering in Piazza Alimonda

Every 20th of July, since 2001, people have gathered in Piazza Alimonda to commemorate the G8 events. We went there to participate and to photograph the colourful and joyful atmosphere. It was beautiful to share it with hundreds of other people. There were singers performing, activists talking on stage and people selling books and magazines about Carlo and the G8 events.

It was a challenging place in which to take pictures because of the many different things happening at the same time. I had to have a clear vision of the kind of composition that I wanted for my photographs and then move in the right place to correctly frame the scene. It was a very inspiring setting to be in because everywhere you looked you would find a meaningful and visually appealing scene to capture.

Memorial for Carlo Giuliani