Guerrilla warfare in Milan, paper bombs against the police and fire in the Duomo. Clashes also…

A day of very high tension passed through the main Italian cities. From Milan to Bologna, up to Turin, the demonstrations born to protest against the high cost of living have degenerated into violent street clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, causing injuries and material damage.

Guerrilla warfare in the heart of Milan: charges and panic in Piazza Duomo

In Milan the procession, which was attended by several thousand people, descended into chaos near Piazza Duomo. A heavy throwing of stones and objects targeted the police in riot gear. Along the way, some members of the procession caused extensive damage to windows, benches and shelters in the area.

To contain the advance and restore order, the police carried out a lightening charge which broke the procession in two. The current toll speaks of minor injuries among the demonstrators and several arrests. In Piazza Duomo there were scenes of great panic: a girl remained on the ground with a wound to her face, rescued and treated by other participants. The situation appears extremely confused and fragmented, with many frightened demonstrators abandoning the march in tears, unsure whether to continue the protest.

Riots in Turin during a demonstration against high prices of living

In Turin, where thousands of people returned to the streets to demonstrate against the high cost of living. As happened on the occasion of No Meloni Day, some young people threw objects at the police protecting the entrance to the Porta Nuova train station, who responded with tear gas. However, a group managed to reach the Feltrinelli bookshop inside the station, overturning the books on the ground.

Tension in Bologna: “Unacceptable devastation”

Similar scenes occurred in Bologna, particularly in the station area, and in Turin, where the police were targeted with stones, firecrackers and smoke bombs, extending the trail of violence after the riots of the previous days which had already seen over 20 officers injured.

The mayor of Bologna intervened firmly, Matteo Lepore: “The scenes we are witnessing in these hours in the station area are unacceptable. The devastation of public goods, the damage and the violence have no justification. I appeal to the young people who are taking to the streets: be the first to isolate those who use a demonstration as a pretext to vent their anger. Those who use violence discredit the reasons of those who demonstrate. We are close to the police who are trying to contain the riots and a demonstration which we do not know was authorised”.

The riots immediately sparked political debate between the center-right and the opposition.Galeazzo Bignamigroup leader of the Brothers of Italy in the Chamber, harshly attacked the opposition. “While several Italian cities are the scene of intolerable scenes of urban guerrilla warfare, with the police forces under attack, the left and Maurizio Landini prefer to parade in the streets in full electoral campaign frenzy – Bignami underlined – not a single word of condemnation has arrived from Elly Schlein, Fratoianni&Bonelli and Giuseppe Conte for the officers who were the objects of a vile lynching: an ambiguous silence that becomes complicity so as not to displease the fringes any more extremists. We strongly relaunch the appeal to the institutional responsibility of President Giorgia Meloni: the left must emerge from ambiguity and side with the women and men in uniform”.

The senator of We Moderates is of the same opinion, Mariastella Gelmini: “Protesting is legitimate, but resorting to violence is not. I remind Schlein that in the centre-right no one wants to criminalize dissent, but we firmly condemn all forms of violence. Which the left should also do unequivocally. This climate of hatred is not good for the country: stop stirring up the streets.”

Landini from the stage in Rome: “General strike on November 20th”

While the clashes were taking place in the squares of the North, the demonstration was held in Rome Via Maestra. From the stage came the announcement from the general secretary of the CGIL, Maurizio Landiniwhich officially proclaimed a national mobilization: “On November 20, the CGIL will proclaim a general strike in this country, because we make ourselves available to this democratic process and change that puts work, rights and social justice back at the center. The strike is the most supportive instrument that exists: when you go on strike you don’t just do it to defend your rights, but to extend them to others. The working citizen, compared to the capitalist citizen, is weaker alone; he can only defend himself with the organization collective. No one will stop us, let’s move forward with strength and solidarity.”

Borgonzoni, serious act to deface San Petronio

“What happened today in Bologna, with the defacement of the Basilica of San Petronio, is a serious act, which offends a symbol of the history and identity of Bologna and of all Italians. The right to demonstrate is sacrosanct, but it cannot become the excuse for ruining our cultural heritage”. Undersecretary of Culture Lucia Borgonzoni declared this in a note. “Thanks to the law against eco-vandals wanted by this Government – he adds – whoever has committed this massacre will be called to answer for it, with foreseen sanctions that can start from 10 thousand and reach up to 60 thousand euros, depending on the extent of the damage, whether it is soiling or damage. Perhaps, when the fine arrives at home, directly to the parents in the case of minors, whoever made the mistake will fully understand the gravity of what they have done, ruining what is everyone’s heritage”.