Politics · Italy · 18 hrs ago
Movement 17 October shifts protest meetups to undisclosed locations
The Movement 17 October has changed its protest plan for Saturday in cities across Italy, including Milan, Rome, Turin and Bologna.
It cancelled the meeting points it had previously announced, including Milan’s Piazza Duomo.
Organizers say they will reveal three gathering places in each city at 2:30 p.m., then name a larger meeting point at 3:30 p.m.
for groups to reach in marches.
The move comes after violence and damage in central Milan last weekend raised concerns about further unrest.
Milan has authorized static gatherings but no marches, and plans checks at railway stations and a reinforced security presence, including 500 additional military personnel.
Other authorized Milan gatherings include a cost-of-living protest and a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
The new locations are due to be announced on Saturday, while police monitor social media and prepare for possible spontaneous gatherings.
The Movement 17 October has cancelled its previously announced protest gathering points in eight Italian cities and will reveal new locations shortly before Saturday’s demonstrations.
It says it will announce three meeting points in each city at 14:30, then a larger destination for marches at 15:30.
The group says the change is intended to protect participants and avoid giving authorities time to prepare.
Authorities are on high alert after violence and damage in Milan the previous weekend.
Milan is preparing enhanced security, including 500 additional military personnel.
- Who
- The Movement 17 October and people invited to join its demonstrations.
- What
- The movement cancelled its announced gathering points and will disclose new ones shortly before the protests.
- When
- Saturday, 24 October; meeting points are to be announced at 14:30 and the march destination at 15:30.
- Where
- Eight Italian cities, including Milan, Rome, Turin, Bologna, Florence, Padua, Bari and Genoa.
- Why
- The movement says the change is to protect participants and avoid offering targets; it also cited opposition to a government security measure.
Movement 17 October
Authorities and security forces
Protest locations
Movement 17 October
The movement says it will reveal new gathering points shortly before the demonstrations to avoid giving authorities advance notice.
Authorities and security forces
Authorities are preparing security measures and monitoring social media amid concern about possible disorder.
Purpose and risk
Movement 17 October
The movement describes the protests as a collective mobilisation and says changing locations is a matter of protection.
Authorities and security forces
A Milan judge cited a high risk of further disorder, while police are preparing for possible violence.
Sky TG24 reported heightened concern ahead of weekend protests and described the movement’s original plan to gather at public landmarks.
The movement announced that it had cancelled its previously announced gathering points.
The movement plans to announce three meeting points in each city.
The movement plans to announce a larger destination for the groups to reach in marches.
- Cities
- Eight: Milan, Rome, Turin, Bologna, Florence, Padua, Bari and Genoa
- First announcement
- 14:30 on Saturday, 24 October
- March destination announcement
- 15:30 on Saturday, 24 October
- Milan reinforcements
- 500 military personnel
- Previously announced Milan site
- Piazza Duomo
5 sources
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What people are saying
The squares announced for tomorrow are cancelled. They will no longer be the places indicated in our appeals. We are not giving up taking to the streets: we are changing how we do it.
The square is ours and we do not intend to hand it over to those who want to turn it into an enclosure.
When we say so, where we say so.
I invite them not to close, but it is clear that more than an invitation I cannot make; then it will be their decision.