2011 Rome demonstration

Rome city uprising of 15 October 2011
Part of 15 October 2011 global protests
Date15 October 2011
Location
Rome, Italy
Caused byEconomic inequality, Corporate influence over government, Corruption in the Berlusconi's Government inter alia.
Methodsstreet protesters, riot
Number
200,000 (approx.)
Casualties
Injuries135
Arrested13

On 15 October 2011 about 200,000 people[1] gathered in Rome, Italy to protest against economic inequality and the influence of the European Commission, the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund on politics and also against the government of Silvio Berlusconi.[citation needed] The protests began in solidarity with the Spanish protests.[2] Many other protests occurred in other Italian cities the same day.[3]

Movements involved

The demonstrations were endorsed by several political parties, trade unions and civil movements, including: Cobas, Federazione Anarchica Italiana, Youth Federation of Italian Communists, Young Communists, Purple people, Workers' Communist Party, Party of Italian Communists, Communist Refoundation Party, Left Ecology Freedom, Critical Left, the left wing of the Italian General Confederation of Labour, and many others.[4]

Riots

On the afternoon the Rome protests turned violent, as hundreds of hooded protesters[5][6] arrived on the scene and broke away from the otherwise peaceful demonstration, setting cars and a police van on fire, smashing bank windows and clashed with police. A Catholic church was ransacked and a statue of the Madonna was thrown into the street where it was stomped on by one of the rioters.[7][8] Two news crews from Sky Italia were also assaulted.[9] Police repeatedly fired tear gas and water cannons at the protesters.[7] At least 135 people were injured, including 105 police officers. Twelve people were arrested the same day,[10] and another one on 17 October.[11]

It was later determined that the damage from the rioting amounted to €1.815 million, with €1 million tied to the Public Works Department.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Come previsto". Il Fatto Quotidiano. 16 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  2. ^ "Indignati d'Italia in piazza a Roma". Corriere della Sera. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  3. ^ "In altre città iniziative pacifiche" (in Italian). ANSA. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  4. ^ Coordinamento 15 ottobre
  5. ^ "Black bloc in azione, 5 ore di guerriglia, Cento feriti negli scontri: tre sono gravi". Corriere Della Sera (in Italian). Rome. 16 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  6. ^ Hornby, Catherine (15 October 2011). "Police and demonstrators clash in Rome, teargas fired". Reuters. Rome. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Violent protests in Italian capital". The Irish Times. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  8. ^ "Black bloc frantumano un crocefisso e statua della Vergine: "Gesto blasfemo"". Corriere Della Sera (in Italian). Rome. 16 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  9. ^ "Dozens injured in Rome as 'Occupy' movement swells". The New Zealand Herald. 16 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-10-15. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  10. ^ "Indignati, 12 arresti e 8 denunce: tra loro una minorenne e 2 donne". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 16 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  11. ^ "Arrestato il ragazzo con l'estintore: "Pentito, ma non sono un black bloc"". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 18 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  12. ^ "In città: Scontri, danni per 2 milioni di euro". RomaSette. 19 October 2011. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2011.

See also


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