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Students and workers rally across Italy against living costs and rearmament

Nationwide · pinned on Rome, Italy · Oct 30, 2026

Is it still on?

NOIt was a one-day action on Oct 30.

Last report · checked

The Tea in three lines

Why they are protesting
Protesters demonstrated against high living costs, rising fuel prices, school funding cuts, and increased military spending.
What they want
Demonstrators demanded higher wages, more funding for education, housing support, and an end to rearmament and military conflicts.
What changed
Oct 30: Police used water cannons and detained eight people in Rome after demonstrators attempted to march towards parliament.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • Increased investment and funding for education
  • Measures to ease the cost of living and rising prices
  • Support for affordable student housing
  • Opposition to rearmament and rising defence spending
  • An end to the militarisation of ports

Organised by: Unione Sindacale di Base, OSA student movement, La Rete della Conoscenza, Link - Coordinamento Universitario, Unione degli Studenti

What authorities say

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government defended its draft 2027 budget measures supporting young people and families, while security forces maintained a heavy police presence. In Rome, police used water cannons and detained eight people after protesters tried to march toward parliament.25789

The numbers

Only figures a source states, with who said it. Estimates often differ.

Arrests / detentions
8
Eight people were detained after repeatedly trying to break through police barricades7
Injuries
13
ten Polizisten und drei Demonstranten verletzt1

The full story

Tens of thousands of students and workers took to the streets across Italy during a general strike called by the grassroots union Unione Sindacale di Base (USB). Marches in cities such as Rome, Milan, Turin, and Naples brought together participants demanding government action against the rising cost of living, housing shortages, budget cuts to education, and increased military spending. In Rome, protesters marched from the central Termini station past the Colosseum and the economy ministry, carrying banners and chanting slogans like "We need more houses, not bombs." While most demonstrations were largely peaceful, police used water cannons and detained several individuals in Rome following attempts to breach barriers near parliament.

Timeline

  1. Police used water cannons and detained eight people in Rome after protesters tried to reach parliament.7

  2. In Rome, thousands marched from Termini station past the Colosseum and the economy ministry.68

  3. A nationwide general strike called by the USB union began, with demonstrations planned in over 40 cities.1237

Pins sit on city centres, never on gathering points

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