Partisan struggle and extremism in the 1970s: the dark side of Italy in the Square

Parents and teachers formed a human shield between students and police during a protest in Turin on October 16, 2026, as tensions escalated during the "No Meloni Day" demonstration. The event took place near Corso Inghilterra, where teachers from various unions, including USB and Cub, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with students to prevent direct contact with law enforcement. This gesture became one of the defining images of the day, alongside a student’s plea to the police: “We’re on the same side, lower your shields.” The protest saw approximately 2,500 students participating after days of school occupations and unrest across Turin. Earlier in the week, the demonstrations had spread throughout the city and its province, involving strikes, self-governance initiatives, and acts of vandalism against schools. Some participants were masked and armed with sticks, leading to physical confrontations with teachers and police. As the demonstration moved toward Piazza Castello, tensions reached a peak when protesters hurled stones and bottles at police officers. In response, authorities deployed water cannons and tear gas. The area around the headquarters of the Metropolitan City and the Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper was heavily secured by police and carabinieri. A bottle nearly hit an officer while the street was completely blocked off by police vehicles, including two water trucks and two armored cars. Traffic chaos ensued in the city center as the procession approached the Metropolitan City building. Protesters, many wearing black clothing and face coverings, climbed onto the monument dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II, lighting green smoke bombs and waving the No Tav flag. One individual scaled the monument's column, raised a middle finger, and mimicked holding a gun with a wooden stick. Local police managed traffic in emergency mode, directing drivers away from the square. Turin’s mayor, Lo Russo, issued an appeal via Instagram to students, urging them to protect their ideas and isolate those engaging in violence. He stated, “Many of you are protesting for attention and listening. Your reasons deserve to be heard. But there are also individuals entering schools with covered faces, breaking computers, destroying classrooms, and causing damage. These are hooligans who harm you most. There are those who exploit these images to speak only about clashes, leaving your issues aside. Violence takes space away from your reasons. I ask you specifically: isolate them, leave them alone. Make clear they act only for themselves because the school is yours, the protest is yours, and the ideas are yours. Defend them from those trying to turn them into violence.” Meanwhile, the movement known as “Italy in Piazza” has drawn comparisons to militant groups from the 1970s, with some participants discussing violence as a political tool. Conversations within private Telegram groups suggest that some view violence as a necessary step toward change, even referencing historical militant organizations such as the Bande Bellini. Despite official denouncements of violence by the movement’s leadership, internal discussions reveal conflicting views. One participant wrote, “Marx required a violent revolution because he believed it was the only way to overthrow the bourgeois state. Pacifism would have worked only after society had already become socialist.” Another user mentioned considering stolen goods as a personal gain opportunity, stating, “Honestly, I think about Rolexes too. Something worth so much and easy to steal. I could make three salaries in three minutes.” The movement claims to remain apolitical and spontaneous, yet the recent escalation of violence raises questions about its control over the protests. Organizers announced new demonstrations scheduled for October 24, under the slogan “Until the change definitely happens,” indicating plans for ongoing weekly gatherings. However, the growing influence of radical elements within the movement suggests that the situation may continue to evolve unpredictably.