By Sohaib Shams
Armored vehicles were deployed near the Colosseum in Rome on Friday as major protests swept across Italy, with demonstrations scheduled in more than 50 cities over war and the rising cost of living.
Protests Spread Across Italian Cities
Authorities expected around 20,000 protesters to march in the capital, where university students, high schoolers and farmers moved through the historic centre chanting slogans against government policies. The nearby Roman amphitheatre was placed under lockdown after protesters entered the site last Saturday, while heavy police trucks guarded a military exhibition at the Circus Maximus.
Clashes and Injuries Reported
In Turin, demonstrators overturned manure bins in front of city hall and forced their way through a police blockade on Via Rossini, prompting officers to retreat. Three people were injured in Vicenza, including one struck in the head by a tear gas canister, according to news agency ANSA. In Milan, hundreds gathered outside the Polytechnic university to demand the right to education and protest rearmament spending, while a march in Naples deviated toward the central station with chants to “block everything.” Students in Bologna used dumpsters to block high school entrances as shopkeepers installed protective screens.
Government Responds with New Laws
The protests have drawn a broad coalition, including medical students in Rome who cited years of temporary contracts and monthly salaries of €1,300-1,500 against rents of €900. Banners targeted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with slogans such as “drink Peroni and hate Meloni.” This month the Meloni government introduced emergency anti-riot measures, including up to five years in prison and fines of €20,000 for joining protests deemed to endanger public safety, as well as financial liability for parents of children involved in vandalism.
European Unrest and Dockworkers Strike
The Italian demonstrations coincide with wider European unrest, including mass marches in France over living costs and education reforms. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of a “very high risk” day for public order on Saturday, with 70,000 security forces deployed. Meanwhile, dockworkers in 22 countries were expected to strike on Friday across 113 ports, protesting against war and the use of ports for arms exports, potentially disrupting over 40 percent of Mediterranean cargo.
