“I don’t think my voice is being heard. Our representative doesn’t represent us. Perhaps she is using the Palestinian issue to further divide the country.”, says a History student in pro-Palestine protest in Rome. “I think the flotilla has done more in two weeks than any other European government. We’ve raised awareness of the Palestinian issue by involving as many people as possible”.
On October 3rd, Friday morning, all eyes were on the manifestations around Italy’s capital. According to organisers, hundreads of thousands of people have joined the protest, called by Italian trade unions in response to the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla by Israeli forces. Police estimate around 60,000 around Termini Station, in the north of the city.
Several streets have been blocked in the city during the morning and beginning of the evening. Schools, healthcare services, and transport including rail and air travel experienced delays and cancellations after the strike, called by major unions such as CGIL and USB as well as several smaller organisations.
The demonstration started from Piazza dei Cinquecento, where unions and activists set up a stand-in that’s going on since last week. From there the march began to move towards the highway, with the aim of reaching and blocking the A24.
“We have come to demonstrate all our humanity, our moral sense, which drives us not to let this phenomenon go unnoticed, a phenomenon we have been neglecting for too long.”, stated a non-identified manifestor
“Israel blocked people who only wanted to bring unarmed aid. It is an unlawful blockade according to international law. Those waters must be passeble”, they complete.
Read: Sapienza’s marching voices
On Thursday, the Italian Commissione di Garanzia had stated that the strike is not legitimate, since the rules of notice were not respected. On this legal ground, the government considers today’s mobilization unlawful. Under Italian law (No. 146/1990), unions must announce strike action at least ten days in advance.
Union leaders and activists said they decided to move ahead after Israeli forces blocked the Global Sumud Flotilla. For them, this incident marked a breaking point and demanded a strong, immediate response.
Among the voices of the unions, Stefania Alessandrini of ASIA-USB, the housing and social branch of USB. argued it was clearly said in advance: “We’ve been following the Flotilla’s route. As a union, we said that if they touched the flotilla, we would block the country. Civil society gave a tremendous response”.
With manifestations going on all over Italy, Unions claim more than 300,000 people have the joined the movement, while police confirm only a fraction of that. This Saturday, protests are expected to bring even more people into the streets all around Italy.
