In Italy, students and workers took to the streets across the country against rising living costs, low wages and problems in public services. While the demonstrators demanded increased wages and strengthened public services, they also reacted to the government's increase in military spending.
A 24-hour general strike was organized with the call made by Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), one of the grassroots unions. As part of the strike, protests were held in more than 40 cities of the country.
During the demonstrations held at the beginning of the month, there were clashes between the police and protesters, some workplaces were looted and public property was damaged. While the protests held on Friday were largely peaceful, tension arose between security forces and demonstrators in some cities.
Thousands of people attended the march near the historical Colosseum in the capital Rome.
Demonstrators announced that they planned to set up tents to continue their protests throughout the weekend. During the protests, some garbage containers were placed on the roads and set on fire.
In the evening, the police intervened when a crowded group wanted to march towards the parliament building.
According to the Italian news agency ANSA, pressurized water was sprayed on the demonstrators who tried to overcome the security barricades. 8 people who were reported to have tried to pass the police barricades several times were detained.
WATER TOP FOR STUDENTS IN TURIN
Students and left-wing activists also held a protest in the city of Turin.
When the demonstrators approached the security cordon established to protect the governor's building, the police intervened with pressurized water.
In Milan, protesters took to the city's ring road and organized a march. The action ended in front of Milan Polytechnic University.
It was reported that some protesters carried torches and various objects were set on fire during the demonstrations.
PROTEST OF 15 THOUSAND PEOPLE AT THE PORT OF GENEVA
In Genoa, one of the important port cities of the country, approximately 15 thousand dock workers, students and demonstrators entered the port and organized a protest.
Activists opposed the use of ports for arms shipments and demanded that military shipments to conflict zones be stopped.
The sailors who lost their lives in conflicts extending from the Gulf region to the Black Sea were also brought to the agenda during the demonstrations.
The protest in Genoa also carried the aim of solidarity with similar actions organized against the use of ports for military shipments in Europe and other parts of the world.
PROTESTS AGAINST THE COST OF LIVING ARE SPREADING IN EUROPE
The general strike in Italy followed protests against rising living costs in many European countries.
Demonstrations have recently been held in France, Spain, Belgium and Albania with demands regarding economic conditions, wages and public services.
In the protests in Italy, workers and students called for economic resources to be allocated to improving wages and strengthening public services instead of military expenditures.
