Strike for Gaza, clashes and guerrilla warfare at Milan's train station: the Meloni government was waiting for nothing else.

Now those who associate the protest with urban violence will have something to talk about, those who seriously emphasized what purpose a day of strike could possibly serve in a war raging some three thousand kilometers away as the crow flies, the Meloni government in power, which could only associate the elusive and vague adjective "ProPal" with the actions of a few troublemakers. The demonstrations throughout Italy on the occasion of the strike called by some grassroots unions for today, Monday, September 22, were almost all peaceful, without any problems, tension, or contact. In some cases, however, there were moments of real urban guerrilla warfare, such as at Milan Central Station and in Bologna , near the highway.

Several hundred protesters attempted to force their way into the Milan train station and came into contact with a group of police officers. Clashes erupted, the most violent of which occurred near the tunnel in front of the station . This riotous group broke numerous windows in the entrance gates and several shop windows, and objects were thrown at the police, who responded with tear gas. Barricades were constructed from garbage cans. All the shops on the ground floor were closed. Riot police managed to clear the protesters away and reopen the station that afternoon. The clashes later moved to Via Vittor Pisani, the avenue connecting the station entrance to Piazza della Repubblica.

Reports speak of moments of real guerrilla warfare , before the situation calmed down in the afternoon. Perhaps the protesters intended to reach the tracks and block them. The final report reports ten arrests and around sixty injured officers. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's post reads, "My thoughts are with the police, forced to endure the arrogance and gratuitous violence of these pseudo-protesters. I hope for clear condemnation from the strike organizers and all political forces." The situation calmed down by the afternoon.

In Bologna , the ring road was blocked, interrupting traffic. Tensions were also high in Marghera, where riot police deployed water cannons to prevent protesters from approaching the toll booth at the commercial port. At least 15,000 people had gathered behind the banner "Gaza is burning, block everything." In Naples, protesters managed to reach the tracks and block them. In Rome, the march that started from Piazza dei Cinquecento is reported to have drawn at least 50,000 people.

According to estimates, at least 100,000 people took to the streets in over 70 cities across Italy.

FROM

Web Editorial Staff