We are Off Piste Collective, a Pissed off no border and migrant solidarity collective, that aims to support people on the move and people in asylum processes and non-processes in the area of Ventimiglia, Italy. Our activities are centered around anti-discrimination, solidarity and mutual aid and try to oppose state violence. We are present here since march 2025. Our focus at the moment is on distribution of basic necessities, bureaucratic support, networking and general support. We aspire to act in solidarity with people who face colonial and bordering violence in the italian side of the border territory!
Ventimiglia is a border city close to the border of France. Those affected by neo-colonialism and border politics have – prominently since the rise of the 2015 neofascist policies – been bordered into this territory. Ventimiglia is a place of transit, the point where people get pushed back to or a place where people are deported to under dublin law. Pushbacks are violent and oftentimes illegal. Although the municipality would have the legal obligation to provide a sleeping place and food, many people are forced to live on the street. The people that are bordered into this territory face harsh conditions, police brutality and fascist hostility.
OFF PISTE COLLECTIVEs long-term goal is to establish a constant and reliable presence in this area. We want to do this in a reflective way, which means that we wish to learn from past experiences and aspire to act respectfully towards each other, the other groups in the territory and – most important – towards people who face racism and border violence. The way we show solidarity may and should evolve and change overtime according to sense making, trial and error and most importantly according to need.