Leaning tower of Pisa/Colosseum in Rome occupied [Archive]

Stranger Than Paradise

25th November 2010, 20:08

Seems there were widespread protests in Italy

Tens of thousands of Italian students have taken part in demonstrations to protest the government's proposed education reform plans.

On a second day of nationwide rallies, students marched on the streets and occupied university buildings in various cities, Reuters reported.

They also entered and occupied the Leaning Tower of Pisa, as well as the Colosseum.

As part of the government's proposed austerity measures, Italy's Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini has put forward a controversial reform bill, which is currently being discussed in the lower house of parliament.

The reforms will create a more "merit-based system", Gelmini says.

Protesters say, however, that universities already have a funding deficit of EUR 1.35 billion next year and the proposed cuts will further harm Italy's higher education system.

While demonstrations are reported to have been largely peaceful, one student was injured during clashes with the police in Florence.

On Wednesday, students attempted to enter parliament but were beaten back by riot police.

On the same day, skirmishes broke out outside the Senate between police and protesters, some of whom stormed into the building.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's troubled government is struggling with a huge budget deficit and no longer has a built-in majority in the lower house of parliament due to coalition infighting.

Four ministers have so far resigned from his cabinet, joining Speaker of Parliament Gianfranco Fini's new Future and Liberty for Italy Party.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/152653.html

Stranger Than Paradise

25th November 2010, 20:17

English-language press release from student protesters in Italy, which saw spontaneous demonstrations, university occupations, bridges, train stations and even airports blocked by students.

Senate, airport, train stations, cities: students have stopped the country fighting education reform and the cuts to education!

These are very intense days in Italy: final cuts to the university has created a huge mobilization all over the country.

Tens of universities, more than 200 schools and even more colleges are going to be occupied this night: if Parliament is going to approve the education Reform, students will go on occupying everything.

An entire generation is rebelling against the destruction of the university and the dismantling of research.

We reclaim for welfare and free research against debt and lobbies, we want funding for education and university to create our own future, we block university and city, we reclaim our future!

***

In Rome, a 'wild demo' (look at the video here (http://www.youreporter.it/video_Corteo_degli_studenti_a_Roma_1)) started from LaSapienza University reaching the Parliament Palace asking for resignation of government (look at the video here (http://www.youreporter.it/video_La_protesta_degli_studenti_davanti_Montecito rio_1))

We threw eggs at the office of the national conference of italian rectors (CRUI): we did that because this association is the strongest supporter of this reform.

Then the 'wild demo' went toward the Senate House, throwing eggs and assaulting the main gate trying to enter: "Resignation, let us enter, give us back our future" shouted students.

Video 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6an2XAXlSI); Video 2 (http://video.corriere.it/assalto-studenti-senato/c9bc8f86-f7cb-11df-9137-00144f02aabc) ; Video 3 (http://www.uniriot.org/uniriotII/index.php?option=com_seyret&Itemid=289&task=videodirectlink&id=365) ;Video 4 (http://www.uniriot.org/uniriotII/index.php?option=com_seyret&Itemid=289&task=videodirectlink&id=366)

During the 'wild demo' students used culture to defend themselves: Samba and "book block" tried to defend students' right to dissent, receiving a violent reaction by police.

Students defended themselves just with the books (yes, using giant books..). After numerous clashes, when the demo was going, some students were arrested and several hurt by police.

Photos of Book block and police charges HERE (http://www.eidonpress.com/shoot/show/id/36754) and video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx91HYO1jMw).

Students decided to do a sit in, asking for the liberation of the arrested. After two hours we went back to the occupied universities to make an assembly, organize support to students and plan the next days of mobilization.

In Pisa students moved this morning from the seven occupied colleges, a wild demo has blocked all the bridges of the city, stopping entrances, and then 3,000 students reached the airport stopping all the flights. Flash mobs and lessons in the squares took place all night long and the Rector's office has been occupied, both in Pisa and Florence.

Photos and video from Pisa here (http://www.uniriot.org/uniriotII/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2146:pisa-tutto-lateneo-bloccato-contro-la-gelmini&catid=85:comunicati&Itemid=279).

In Padua a wild demo blocked the city, university has been occupied and police charged students.

Video here (http://www.uniriot.org/uniriotII/index.php?option=com_seyret&Itemid=289&task=videodirectlink&id=367).

In Turin students blocked the main train station and in Bologna, after a wild demo the Rector's office has been occupied in solidarity with students arrested in Rome.

In Rome, Milan, Turin and Perugia researchers and students occupied the roof of universities.

In London, twenty thousands students walked out crying "We are the future, think twice", as in Rome, Dublin, Paris and Madrid last month protests took place in different ways.

Young people all over Europe are shouting firmly that we are the future and not the responsible of the crisis, we refuse any kind of austerity, blocking all the production and the centre of decision.

EU and european governments are creaking, they are not able to contain social dissent and students indignation: welfare, funding, independent research are the only answers we can accept from governments who want to destroy our life and future.

http://libcom.org/library/stop-country-take-back-future-italian-students-protest-education-reform