Thousands march in Rome housing protest after Spin Time building evacuation

Demonstration route and mobilization

On Saturday afternoon, 19 September 2026, thousands of demonstrators marched across Rome to support the Spin Time housing collective and protest urban housing policies. Organized by a coalition of more than 200 entities, including social centres, trade unions, student groups, migrant collectives, and Catholic associations from across Italy, the march began at Piazza della Repubblica. The procession moved along a planned route through the Castro Pretorio and San Lorenzo neighbourhoods before arriving at Piazza Vittorio in the Esquilino district. Lead vehicles displayed cardboard keys alongside banners reading that the time for Spin Time is now and that the city belongs to those who live in it rather than those who speculate. Organizers estimated the final turnout at 50,000 participants, while police security forces had prepared for an earlier projected attendance of approximately 10,000 people.

Actions outside Investire SGR and the transport ministry

The march featured targeted demonstrations outside institutional and corporate premises along the transit route. Protesters staged a demonstration in front of the headquarters of Investire SGR, the asset management fund that owns the building at Via di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme 55. Demonstrators displayed placards reading that all parties involved were complicit, chanting against public policies that transfer municipal assets to private management. Outside the Ministry of Transport, participants arranged an outdoor domestic setup featuring chairs, mattresses, plates, cups, and cutlery directly on the pavement. Organizers addressed the public over megaphones, arguing that extreme rental rates across the capital make street living a reality for many residents, and demanded comprehensive legislation to prioritize bottom-up housing access over commercial profits.

Safety concerns and building history

The public mobilization followed repeated emergency incidents at the ten-storey building occupied by the Spin Time collective since 2013. In July 2026, authorities ordered an evacuation of the property after a fire that caused severe internal safety risks, after which occupants utilized adjacent outdoor spaces. Late on the evening of Friday, 18 September 2026, a second fire broke out in the Esquilino building. Firefighters conducted on-site technical inspections, determined that the premises remained hazardous, and evacuated occupants to provide medical care and emergency shelter with Civil Protection support. Meanwhile, municipal authorities in Rome have explored options to purchase the property using public funds to normalize the site.

Political reactions and parliamentary scrutiny

The latest fire and ongoing occupation drew demands for formal government intervention from members of Fratelli d'Italia. Federico Mollicone, a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and president of the Culture Committee, announced a parliamentary inquiry to investigate building, sanitary, and fire safety compliance within the facility.

The latest fire that broke out inside the occupied Spin Time building represents an alarm bell that cannot and must not go unheeded. It is completely unacceptable that in the heart of Rome and the Esquilino district free zones continue to exist, removed from compliance with the law and institutional control.

Mollicone also criticized Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri for previously validating the occupied premises during municipal primary elections. Rome city councillor Federico Rocca similarly called for the immediate and permanent clearing of the building.

We cannot wait for tragedy before intervening: these properties must be definitively cleared because it is no longer acceptable that, in 2026, widespread areas of illegality still exist.

Following the conclusion of the march at Piazza Vittorio, police forces maintained security cordons around the Esquilino site.