After last weekend’s clashes and destruction in Milan, from Turin to Milan, passing through Rome and down to Castel Volturno, protests are returning to the squares: against war, rearmament, the rising cost of living and detention centres for the repatriation of migrants (CPR).
However, the map of the 17 October Movement has changed: the squares announced in recent days have been cancelled, and the new meeting points will be made known today, Saturday, 24 October, shortly before the protests set to begin at 14:30.
In Milan, while it remains unclear whether there will be a protest in Piazza Duomo, where calls for 15:00 are circulating on social networks, grassroots unions will gather in the morning in Piazza Cavour against the rising cost of living. Also in the morning, at 10:00, the protest by the group “Students with the Tricolour” is planned in Piazza XXV Aprile, while in the afternoon an event in support of Palestine will take place in Piazza Leonardo da Vinci.
In Rome, the day begins at 10:00 with a march by the right, organised by Gioventù Nazionale, from Piazza della Libertà to Piazza Risorgimento. At 14:00, from Piazza della Repubblica, the national demonstration “Italy out of the war” will set off. Meanwhile, Circo Massimo, which was initially designated by the 17 October Movement as a meeting point, is no longer the planned venue for the protest.
In Turin, too, there will be a protest against rearmament at 15:00, from Piazza Castello, with the march “We won’t pay for the war”, organised by the “Turin against rearmament” coordination, together with Askatasuna and students. High school students will gather at 14:00 in Piazza Arbarello, while university students will set off from Palazzo Nuovo.
In Aosta, at 15:00, in Piazza Chanoux, the group “We are the people” will protest over issues related to education, rising fuel prices, wages, rents and healthcare.
In Genoa, the site initially chosen by the 17 October Movement was Piazza De Ferrari, but, as in other Italian cities, this decision has been cancelled and the new meeting point will only be announced at the last moment. Protesters are expected to take to the streets again. Due to the complete uncertainty, police have prepared a broad but also flexible security plan, in case protesters gather at several points in the city.
In the Emilia-Romagna region, in Bologna, the collectives Làbas and Tpo have organised a demonstration against what they describe as a “toughening of the government’s repressive measures”.
In Forlì, the participation of the Generation Z movement is expected, especially after controversy over the gathering announced by Forza Nuova in Piazzale della Vittoria, where its leader Roberto Fiore is also expected to be present.
In the Veneto region, in Padua, a protest for peace will be held at 11:00 in Piazza delle Erbe, as well as an event on school issues in Piazza Garibaldi, where another gathering is planned for 14:30.
In Verona, a demonstration for Moussa Diarra will take place at 10:00, while a protest against excise taxes and war is planned for 15:00.
In Florence, according to announcements circulating in online chats, two possible demonstrations have been announced. The group “We, the people – another movement” has set its gathering in Piazza della Signoria. Meanwhile, the 17 October Movement had initially announced a gathering in Piazza Santa Maria Novella, but the meeting has been cancelled, as in other cities, and the new venue has not yet been made known. Gatherings and marches are also expected in the rest of Tuscany.
In the Campania region, in Naples, a protest against the rising cost of living will take place in Piazza del Plebiscito at 15:00.
In Castel Volturno, thousands of people are expected to gather, among them representatives of the diocese, Caritas, the Libera organisation, associations, migrants and agricultural workers. They will march against the project to build a detention centre for migrants awaiting repatriation (CPR), with a capacity of 120 places. The President of the Region, Roberto Fico, is also expected to take part in the event.
It is reported that the army has also been deployed to maintain public order.