Mass protests sweep Italy as workers demand more school funding and lower living costs

On 30 Oct, tens of thousands marched through Rome and other cities in a general strike organized by the USB union, with police deploying heavily after earlier unrest in Turin and Milan. Demonstrators, including students, farmers, truck drivers and taxi drivers, followed a route that began at Termini station, passed the Colosseum and the Economy Ministry, and was led by tractors and a taxi. The union estimates nationwide participation between 1 million and 1.5 million people, while independent counts put the total at over 200 000, with about 50 000 in Rome and Bologna each. Protesters called for increased school funding, housing support and a shift of defence spending toward social needs, citing rents of up to €1,200 per month for a single student room in Rome.