ROME – A broad coalition of Italian civil society groups is preparing for a weekend of protests in Rome, beginning Friday, March 27th, against what organizers describe as a resurgence of authoritarianism and escalating military spending. The demonstrations, collectively dubbed “Together,” will feature a concert in the Testaccio neighborhood on Friday evening followed by a march through the city center on Saturday.
The planned actions are being coordinated with similar protests in London, organized by the Together Alliance and in the United States, where the “No Kings” movement is mobilizing against the policies of Donald Trump. “They are dismantling all the limits to power that humanity had built: international law, the welfare state, democracy,” said Raffaella Bolini, Vice President of Arci, during a press conference Thursday at Palazzo Valentini in Rome. “The absolute sovereigns and their wars, internal and external, are returning. We do not resign ourselves to the role of subjects, that’s why No Kings.”
The “No Kings Italy” movement has been building momentum through public assemblies held in Rome and Bologna in November and January. Organizers say over 700 organizations are now involved, united by opposition to recent security packages they characterize as authoritarian and by concerns over increased military spending. The groups are also focusing on social issues including labor rights, healthcare, housing, environmental protection, and violence against women, as well as opposing a referendum on judicial reform.
The protests are scheduled to take place just days before the planned departure on March 29th of the second Global Sumud Flotilla, intended to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. Organizers anticipate “over 20 artists, even mainstream, those who fill stadiums” will perform at the Friday concert, though the lineup remains unannounced.
Luca Blasi, a Rome city councilor involved in opposing recent security decrees since 2024, and Rosa Lella, a journalist with No Bavaglio and Stop Rearm Eu, were among those present at Thursday’s press conference. Christopher Ceresi of Bologna’s social municipalities, Alfio Nicotra of the Peace and Disarmament Network, and Maria Elena Delia of Sumud/Global movement to Gaza also participated remotely.
Riccardo Noury of Amnesty International drew parallels between the current mobilization and the protests surrounding the 2001 G8 summit in Genoa, which were met with a violent crackdown by authorities. “We have always said that it was unrepeatable, and we all hope so,” Noury stated.
Concerns over a recently approved security decree, the details of which have not yet been published, are fueling anxieties among activists. Federica Borlizzi, an attorney, highlighted provisions allowing for preventative detention, urban exclusion orders based solely on police reports, and fines of up to 10,000 euros for deviating from designated protest routes. Activists expressed fears of criminalization and repression, emphasizing their commitment to a peaceful demonstration.
The Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL), which participated in assemblies in Rome and Bologna, has yet to formally decide whether to endorse the protests. A series of related events are planned in Rome, including a march on February 22nd to commemorate Valerio Verbano, a victim of neofascist violence in 1980, and a demonstration on February 28th against a proposed law on gender violence. A national assembly of the No Kings movement is scheduled for March 1st at the University of La Sapienza in Rome.
