Strikes and Protests Across Italy Over Pay and Living Costs, Water Cannon Used in Turin and Rome
Thousands of people took to the streets across Italy on Friday demanding higher wages and stronger public services. The protests, held against the rising cost of living and increased military spending, were attended mostly by students and workers. British news agency Reuters reported the news.
The grassroots trade union Unione Sindacale di Base called a 24-hour general strike. Under that call, protests were planned in more than 40 cities across the country.
The protests came after clashes between protesters and police, looting of shops and vandalism of property earlier this month. This time the protests were mostly peaceful, although tension appeared in some areas.
In Turin, police used water cannon to push back students and left-wing activists who were advancing towards the security cordon around the prefecture building.
In the capital Rome, a huge march passed near the Colosseum. There, protesters said they planned to pitch tents and stay over the weekend. Several rubbish bins were placed on the road and set on fire.
In the evening in Rome, when a large group tried to march towards parliament, police used water cannon to disperse the crowd. Italian news agency ANSA reported that eight people were detained for repeatedly trying to break police barricades.
In Milan, protesters marched onto the city's ring road. The march later ended in front of the Politecnico di Milano university. Protesters carried flares and set various items on fire.
In the port city of Genoa, around 15,000 people including port workers, students and other protesters entered the port. They joined protests taking place in Europe and elsewhere against the use of ports for arms shipments. They also raised the issue of sailors' deaths in conflicts from the Gulf to the Black Sea.
The report noted that a wave of protests driven by grievances including the cost of living has spread to various European countries including France, Spain, Belgium and Albania.
