Edward Marchesi The second consecutive day of No Meloni Day saw more than six hundred young people gather in Cagliari's historic Piazza Garibaldi. The march, starting right in the heart of the city, wound through the central streets before turning toward the Regional Council building on Via Roma.
The movement was also fueled by students at the University of Cagliari, who the previous day had pitched tents in front of the Law Department to protest rising living costs and rents.
This continuity demonstrates a growing determination to make one's voice heard on the public stage.
The protest route from Piazza Garibaldi to the Regional Council
Whistles, trumpets, and group music were played throughout the march, creating an atmosphere of celebration and protest at the same time. A young man dressed as a shark sparked curiosity and smiles, helping to break the monotony of a traditional demonstration.
The main sign waved by the march read "Money for school, not war," flanked by the Four Moors flag and the Italian tricolor. In addition, the flags of independence and peace movements were displayed, as well as those of the university's student associations.
Symbols and images of protest
On the street, passport photos were laid out on the pavement with the faces of Schlein, Valditara, Nordio, Meloni and Tajani, next to the symbol of the Leonardo brand and red handprints, explained as a symbol of the blood spilled.
Some participants also lit red smoke bombs to emphasize the message.
Students' requests and Francesco Ledda's statement
The students called on the government to allocate more resources to the education sector, denouncing the lack of funding for research, doctoral programs, and university professors. "We are protesting because of the structural conditions of our university, but also because of the underfunding of research, doctoral programs, and professors," said Francesco Ledda, a history student.
Ledda also emphasized the importance of institutions reaching out to support young Sardinians: "We need a university and a school that can teach us who we are as Sardinians and what our potential is as a land, because today our past and our future have been taken away from us."
The demands focus on safe academic buildings, a university structure accessible to all, and serious funding that will allow Italy to invest in human capital rather than fuel armed conflict.