Italy is experiencing intense days of protests — demanding labor rights, opposing U.S. imperialism and militarism, and showing support for the people of Palestine, Venezuela and Cuba.
A report published on the website of the newspaper La Repubblica states that tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the Italian capital over the weekend, continuing a general strike held on Friday, called by the Union of Base Unions (USB) and other unions.
The demonstrations this Saturday and Sunday were organized by unions, in conjunction with social and political organizations, in support of workers’ demands, as well as against Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip, the United States’ threats against Venezuela, and the economic blockade against Cuba.
On Saturday, November 29th, a march took place from 2:00 p.m. local time until late into the night, passing through important points in the city such as Via della Piramide Cestiana, Via del Aventino, Via San Gregorio, Via Labicana, and Via Merulana, with stops at Piazza del Colosseum and Piazza Porta San Giovanni.
Yesterday, Sunday, a demonstration was held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time in Piazza Roberto Malatesta, as well as another that began at 11:00 a.m. in the Don Bosco area, proceeding along Via Flavio Stilichone and Via Ponzio Cominio, with a stop at Piazza dei Consulli, according to the newspaper Roma Today.
Participants in these protests flooded the streets of Rome with union flags, as well as those of the various groups represented there, and also flags of Palestine, Venezuela, and Cuba, while chanting slogans such as “Stop the rearmament and genocide against Gaza,” “Long live Venezuela,” “Long live Chávez,” and “Down with the blockade against Cuba.”
Economist Luciano Vasapollo, co-founder of the Italian chapter of the network of intellectuals, artists, and social activists “In Defense of Humanity,” told the newspaper Il Faro di Roma that the demonstrations this weekend showed a strong sense of international solidarity.
Vasapollo emphasized, in reference to the blockade against Cuba and the various actions against that country, as well as against Venezuela, that “imperialism is not limited to economic measures or diplomatic pressure.”
In the case of Venezuela, “the information coming in indicates a real risk of direct military intervention,” he warned, adding that “denouncing and making this threat visible is fundamental, because it affects not only Venezuela, but the very idea of self-determination of peoples.”
The prominent political activist emphasized the relevance of demonstrations like those held in Italy in recent days, given the importance of strengthening the role of “a left that makes no concessions to the war economy and the capitalist logic that fuels it.”
Luciano Vasapollo said: “An alternative left is necessary, because it is not enough to say no to wars and social blackmail; it is necessary to build a strong and credible ‘yes’ to another politics, another economy, another vision of community.”
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
