Adnkronos (Adnkronos) –
Thousands of people are expected to attend the demonstrations today, Friday, October 30, in Rome and Milan. In the capital, the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, and Termini station are under special surveillance for the USB demonstration, which will depart from Piazza dei Cinquecento at 10:30 a.m. and head to Via dei Fori Imperiali. Around 20,000 people are expected, but it cannot be ruled out that even more people may take part.
Pro-PAL and student movements will also be present in the square, having announced preliminary gatherings between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. in Piazzale Aldo Moro, Piazzale Ostiense, Piazza dell'Immacolata, and several schools. The operational briefing on public order management, which promises to be challenging, took place during a technical meeting in San Vitale, chaired by Police Commissioner Roberto Massucci, attended by representatives of all the police forces and agencies, AMA and ATAC.
The demonstrations will open with a march, announced by the USB, on the occasion of the strike, which will coincide with the inaugural ceremony of the Security Village set up at the Circus Maximus, ahead of the anniversary on November 4th. The organization of the march has been the subject of dialogue and mediation between the police headquarters and the organizers over the past few weeks, with the aim of guaranteeing the right to demonstrate and providing spaces for social and economic demands, while leveraging the sense of responsibility of the event organizers themselves.
The mediation process was conducted with an approach focused on absolute transparency regarding the usability of city spaces, reiterating the institutions' firm commitment to ensuring public order and safety against any behavior that might constitute a violation of current regulations.
Particular attention will be paid to the archaeological areas of the Colosseum and Circus Maximus, not only in relation to the dynamics of the procession, but also to the numerous pre-gatherings that have been forewarned and announced from various points and schools in the city, which will allow the various components of the procession to reach the assembly point in Piazza dei Cinquecento. The information gathering activity, which has been carried out to date, will be further enhanced by a working method based on the synergy implemented by the Police Headquarters and the Cyber Security Center, which is responsible for monitoring the web and social media.
The events will be monitored by the aircraft of the 1st Police Flight Unit and the Carabinieri, which will be further supported by drones operated by the Rome Police Headquarters for aerial surveillance of the sites. Among the sensitive targets monitored is the Rome Termini railway station, located in the heart of the urban area, where the procession will gather and depart, as well as transit along its arrival route. The symbolic and strategic importance of the logistics hub takes on even greater importance tomorrow, called by the USB union, due to the general strike, which could also involve railway workers. Attention will also be focused on the Civitavecchia port hub, which could serve as a useful target for further protest initiatives. "The liveability of the demonstration," Rome Police Headquarters emphasized, "will be ensured with a low-profile approach," which "the police forces will implement in managing the procession and other city events, consistent with the behavioral guidelines" of the protesters.
Even the intelligence community is taking to the streets in Milan today, and those responsible for public order are promising a "comprehensive plan" to protect the right to peaceful protest, "isolating those who take to the streets solely to cause disorder and commit violence." The Lombardy capital is among the cities most affected by potential protests and mobilizations. Today, the demonstration against the high cost of living will see workers, students, social centers, and pro-PAL activists close to Youssef Siher take to the streets. There are two events: at 9:30 a.m., workers and students will gather in Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, in Città Studi, while at 10 a.m., the main gathering of grassroots unions—at least 10,000 people are expected—is planned in Piazza Duca d'Aosta, in front of the Central Station.
The goal is for the two groups to converge in the Piazzale Loreto area and then head north along Via Padova to the eastern ring road (towards Cascina Gobba), a busy artery that could be occupied. While the social centers and areas of Milan's rivalry remain the most unpredictable, a large deployment of law enforcement, reinforced by the latest arrivals, will be on the lookout for any unforeseen incidents. But it's that wave of very young people "heterogeneous in social background, origin, and geographical origin, not belonging to any political or local groups or associations" that law enforcement is watching. "They are united by the desire to take advantage of the situation of disorder" to devastate and loot shops and public property. The minors—some not charged—are Italians, including second-generation Italians living in the suburbs or hinterland, and even from neighboring provinces.
The way they move around the square is a new phenomenon, explains the DIGOS itself: "The youths set out in large groups—sometimes challenging law enforcement—and then split into groups of 20-30 youths who move through side streets, focusing on looting and destruction. They disperse, even managing to operate in groups of ten." All disguised, in some cases armed with "glass-breaking hammers, cutting weapons, truncheons, and blunt objects suitable for burglary," they use social media like TikTok and messaging on WhatsApp and Telegram as a lure, and demonstrate "a great ability to learn urban warfare techniques." This is how they are described in the reports sent to the Prosecutor's Office, and some fear they may make themselves heard this weekend: no demonstration is planned for Saturday, October 31st, but besides the derby at the San Siro, it's Halloween night, and some on social media are promising it will be "the night of judgment."
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