Tens of thousands of Italians demanded a ban on the far right at a rally in Rome on Saturday after violent protests against the health pass last weekend blamed on neofascists.
Carrying "
Fascism, never again
" signs, demonstrators in San Giovanni Square - a place historically associated with the left - demanded a ban on the neofascist group Forza Nuova (FN).
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This event brought together at least 200,000 people, according to the organizers, who mobilized 800 coaches and 10 trains.
FN leaders were among those arrested after the attack on the headquarters of the CGIL (left) union, the country's main trade union confederation, during the anti-pass demonstration on 9 October.
Calls multiply to ban Forza Nuova
“
This is not just a response to fascist 'squadronism'
,” said CGIL union general secretary Maurizio Landini, using the term for paramilitary forces after World War I that had become a form of armed wing of Italian fascism.
"
This square also symbolizes all those in Italy who want to change the country, who want to close the door to political violence
," he added to the assembled demonstrators.
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Several hundred people opposed the police in central Rome last Saturday, devastating, among other things, the CGIL headquarters.
The attack came after a demonstration against the obligation, from October 15, of the health pass in all workplaces.
Calls have multiplied in Italy to ban Forza Nuova, implicated after these demonstrations.
“
Neofascist groups must be banned now.
But first we need anti-fascist education in schools,
”student Margherita Sardi told AFP.
The Democratic Party (center-left), leading calls to ban FN, said its petition for Parliament to pronounce it had collected 100,000 signatures.