Italy Sends Troops to Cities as Weekend Protests Are Planned

The Italian government is sending 500 soldiers into Milan ahead of planned demonstrations in eight cities. The decision to deploy troops follows a protest in the same city one week earlier that ended in clashes between demonstrators and police, along with looting of stores.

The upcoming marches on Saturday have been organized by the October 17 Movement, a newly formed group working with student federations, grassroots unions, and antiwar coalitions. Their stated opposition targets both Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing administration and the high cost of living. 'Those who deny our future are truly violent,' the group wrote on Instagram, adding, 'We distrust this government because we see it as authoritarian.'

Since the violence in Milan, authorities have intensified security operations. Police raided properties in multiple cities on Friday to find those responsible for the disorder, and conducted an additional 150 searches across Lombardy on Saturday morning. Officials are also questioning the administrator of the group's Instagram page regarding accusations of inciting crimes. Reports identify him as a 30-year-old Italian-Moroccan journalist.

Many participants intend to keep their actions nonviolent. One protester identified as E stated, 'We must be peaceful. If we give [the police] an excuse, they will charge against us.' Organizers plan to reveal the gathering spots on social media only on Saturday afternoon, keeping the meeting points secret until then.

Police made 271 arrests during the unrest last Sunday, and a vast majority of those detained were minors. Reports indicate some young people joined after receiving invitations through a Telegram group chat. Lawyer Michele D'Agostino, who represents a 15-year-old detained at the scene, explained that the boy 'didn't even know the reasons behind the protest; he had just seen it on TikTok and decided to check it out with a friend.'

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio has suggested the country must 'expand the capacity of our youth detention facilities' because of the number of minors arrested. Public prosecutors blame social media for steering young people toward what they call 'insurrectional acts'. Separately, truck drivers in southern Italy blockaded roads earlier this week to protest high fuel prices. The government responded on Thursday by offering tax breaks and setting up a special fund for farmers and fishermen.