Italian students clash with police in austerity protests
October 5, 2012Police clad in riot gear violently clashed with student protesters as thousands poured onto the streets during anti-cuts demonstrations in several major Italian cities. Similar anti-austerity rallies were reported throughout the country.
Hundreds of high-schooled aged protesters scuffled with police in Rome as they attempted to reach the country’s education ministry.
Riot police allegedly beat several student demonstrators with truncheons during the anti-cuts rally. Several demonstrators claim police pinned them to the ground with knees and batons pressed against their necks.
Four police officers were reportedly injured, and several organizers of the “unauthorized” protest were detained.
Police say they confiscated missiles lobbed at them during the skirmishes.
Several of the detained student protest organizers are currently being identified, and one 15-year-old demonstrator scooped up by police was later released to his parents.
“No to the Crisis and Austerity! Let’s take back our Schools and Cities!” read a large banner at the front of the protest in Rome.
“We take to the streets not only to say that we do not accept these austerity politics, but also to bring to the attention of the public the problems of the schools, to say that the school is an important piece of society and we can’t do without it,” one demonstrator who did not provide his name said.
