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Demonstrators in Rome
Photo: Andrew Medichini / dpa
A week after the attack on the headquarters of the CGIL union in Rome, tens of thousands of people demonstrated against fascism in the Italian capital and called for a ban on the right-wing Forza Nuova (FN) party.
"No more fascism: for work, participation and democracy" was the motto of the event organized by the trade union confederations CGIL, CISL and UIL.
According to media reports, more than 50,000 people came to the rally.
About a week ago, riots broke out during the demonstration against the expanded corona rules in Italy.
On the fringes, members of the right-wing extremist Forza Nuova party, among others, attacked the CGIL headquarters.
There were several injured.
The police arrested several members of the far-right party, including leading party officials.
Union secretary Maurizio Landini said at the rally on Saturday it was time to put a stop to "political violence".
“Neo-fascist groups must be banned, immediately.
But first we need an anti-fascist education in the schools, ”said the student Margherita Sardi.
Petition to ban the far-right Forza Nuova
The center-left Democratic Party, which is leading the call for an FN ban, said 100,000 people have already signed their petition.
Italian politics is currently discussing the dissolution of the party.
At the rally, CISL General Secretary Luigi Sbarra called for rapid progress in dismantling neo-fascist and neo-Nazi organizations.
On Saturday Italy also commemorated a raid by the Nazis 78 years ago in Rome, as a result of which more than 1,000 Jews were deported to the Auschwitz extermination camp.
According to the trade unions, around 800 buses and ten special trains were ready across Italy to take people to the capital.
With flags and banners, thousands of union supporters and various left-wing groups marched through the streets around the venue in Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano, not far from the Colosseum.
tfb / dpa / AFP