Milan, Italy —
Anti-Olympic protesters marched peacefully through Milan on Saturday afternoon, holding signs, marching arm-in-arm, singing and dancing. But when night fell, the demonstration turned violent as some protesters targeted police and their vans, and officials responded with tear gas and water cannons.
This comes as authorities separately investigate a series of incidents on rail lines in northern Italy that officials fear could be coordinated sabotage.
On Sunday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni slammed the protesters as “enemies of Italy and Italians” in a social media post that showed US media coverage of the demonstrations. “Solidarity, once again, with the police, the city of Milan, and all those who will see their work undermined by these gangs of criminals,” she said.
The protest march against Olympics organizers drew groups from the city, Lombardy and the rest of northern Italy. Demonstrators voiced opposition to the environmental impacts of constructing Olympic venues, as well as what they describe as the “economic and social harm” caused by the Games.
How the protest unfolded
After marching from Piazza Medaglie d’Oro, the protesters passed near the Olympic Village, which was secured by a large police cordon. Some demonstrators threw firecrackers and smoke bombs toward the athletes’ housing. The buildings were far enough away that none of the objects could actually reach them.
The march then diverted left onto Via Benaco, moving away from the Village with clashes beginning when the protest reached Piazzale Corvetto. A smaller group of protesters threw fireworks at police, who responded with a charge. Demonstrators later targeted police vans with additional fireworks. Officers deployed water cannons and tear gas in response.
Not all the protesters joined in on the clashes with authorities, with many demonstrators remaining in the main area of the square.
