Emotions in shrinking spaces for migrant solidarity: The protest campaign in the “Diciotti Ship Affair” at the port of Catania

In the past years, the actions of solidarity towards the migrants have been the target of populist and right-wing political parties, governments and a large part of the Western public opinion, in particular way in Italy. Despite such hostile context, there were reactions and protest events by the NGOs, groups and voluntary, anti-racist, pro-migrants associations. Among these protests stands out the mobilization that occurred at the end of August 2018 at the port of Catania (Sicily), in support of migrants rescued by the Coast Guard and stuck on the ship “U. Diciotti” by Minister Salvini for several days, with the aim of “getting them off”. Focusing on the role of emotions, this chapter discusses this successful mobilization that, despite a political opportunity structure not favourable, achieved its main goal and involved thousands of demonstrators not used to protest. What emerged is that emotions as a mobilizing factor can complement traditional approaches in explaining the successful participation of a certain segment of civil society in an anti-racist protest campaign, facing a context of shrinking space for solidarity towards migrants.