On Friday, tens of thousands of students and young people gathered in major Italian cities, including Rome and Bologna, to demand urgent action on climate change, improvements to the public education system, and a halt to rising military expenditures, according to reports.
The protests, organized by student organizations and environmental groups under slogans such as “No Meloni Day,” spread across cities like Milan, Turin, Genoa, Pisa, and Naples. Participants called for enhanced school infrastructure, better living costs, and opposition to military armament.
Members of the Alternative Student Opposition (OSA) voiced their concerns on social media, stating, “Our schools are collapsing,” and urged the government to redirect the €13 billion allocated to military spending towards education.
While most demonstrations were peaceful, tensions did arise, particularly in the capital and Bologna, where isolated incidents occurred with security forces.
In Rome, thousands marched through the city center to the Ministry of Education, where police and riot control units were positioned. Some protesters threw firecrackers at the building’s facade, chanting slogans such as “We want more classrooms, not more bombs!” and “Valditara, out of the building!” in reference to Italian Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara.
Many demonstrators carried anti-government signs and announced a general strike for October 30 under the banner: “From ports to schools, students and workers united.”
In Bologna, clashes erupted as the protest reached the central train station, with protesters throwing objects at riot police, who responded with a brief charge.
Opposition to Foreign Student Quota
Another key demand from the protests was the rejection of new government regulations set by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which impose a 30% cap on foreign students in certain classes at educational institutions. This measure, contingent on academic performance and language proficiency, has faced severe criticism from student groups, who argue it promotes discrimination and hinders social integration.
During their marches in the capital, protesters expressed their opposition to a “government of war, exploitation, and racism,” while in Milan, thousands marched peacefully under the slogan “No one is a stranger.”
Climate Change as a Central Demand
The student demonstrations coincided with another global day of action organized by Fridays for Future against global warming, fossil fuel use, and inadequate government environmental policies. Activists are calling for measures to reduce harmful emissions and improve living conditions in urban areas, denouncing the links between climate crisis, social inequalities, and energy poverty.
In Rome, the environmental march was scheduled for 5 PM local time (3 PM GMT) towards the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.
