Milan general strike: organisers claim 100,000, police count 25,000 marchers

A strike across Italy

Base unions called a general strike on Friday, 30 October, against the rising cost of living (carovita) and rearmament. Open reported that rallies were held in more than 60 squares across Italy, while Rai News reported that protesters in several cities, including Bologna, Naples and Genoa, took part. Protesters in Rai's coverage claimed a million people had joined nationwide. In Naples, demonstrators entered the railway station without clashes and offered sfogliatelle pastries to police officers, according to Rai News. In Genoa the protest gathered at the port.

Crowd estimates in Milan

In Milan, the march started from two gathering points in the city before heading toward the eastern ring road. Organisers estimated the crowd at 100,000 through loudspeakers during the march. Adnkronos put the turnout at over 30,000 students and workers, while the police (questura) counted 25,000, according to Open. The sources do not reconcile the organisers' figure with the police count, so both numbers stand as stated.

Organisers100,000

Adnkronos (over 30,000)30,000

Police (questura)25,000

Organisers

100000 people

Adnkronos (over 30,000)

30000 people

Police (questura)

25000 people

Data from the article text

Ring road occupation

This time the march avoided the city centre, and protesters turned into via Palmanova to reach the eastern ring road. Tgcom24 reported that the march had occupied the ring road around 13:00. Open said police stepped back and let the march proceed. Adnkronos located the blockage between Cascina Gobba and Lambrate. Most protesters left the ring road at the Lambrate ramp after about an hour and a half.

Slogans, banners and graffiti

Chants called for the Meloni government to resign, with cries of "Governo Meloni, dimissioni!" and insults aimed at ministers Valditara and Piantedosi, Open reported. Students climbed luminous road signs above the carriageway, waved an Italian flag and hung a yellow banner reading "Gen Maranza". ANSA reported that fireworks were set off during the action. Graffiti along the ring road read "Salvini appeso" and "Meloni appesa", which Tgcom24 described as calling for the death of the prime minister and her deputy.

Political reactions

AVS member of the European Parliament Ilaria Salis joined the march, which set off from piazza Leonardo da Vinci toward piazza Duca d'Aosta. Asked whether she expected change after the demonstrations of 17 October, she said people remained determined and would keep marching until something changed.

“Therefore we are here for the students, but also for the workers and to improve people's living conditions.”

Lega member of the European Parliament Silvia Sardone criticised Salis's presence and said Lega banners had been cut from the route.

“This left, without ideas or programmes, has now been reduced only to these protests, between insults and vandalism.”