Students of Rome’s largest university, Sapienza, occupied the building of the Faculty of Political Science, demanding the resignation of the rector of the university, Antonella Polimeni.
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On Tuesday, Sapienza students clashed with police on campus. Activists opposed the participation of representatives of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party in the conference and tried to occupy the building with a banner “Fascists, get out of Sapienza.” The entry attempt was prevented by the police in special equipment, who used truncheons against the students. As a result of the skirmish, two students were detained, one of them received a head wound. Other protesters also complained about injuries.
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Rector Polimeni spoke in support of the students, saying that the actions of law enforcement officers were directed by the police department of Rome.
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However, the students’ organization demanded Polimeni’s resignation, accusing her of failing to ensure the safety of the students. In the message, the students also demand that law enforcement forces be banned from entering the campus.
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The Sapienza incident attracted the attention of the country’s new leadership: Italian Prime Minister George Meloni said that the students’ actions were absolutely not peaceful. She turned to the definition of democracy, which “is respect for other people’s ideas,” and the protesters, she said, were going to prevent others from expressing their opinions.
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Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, in turn, supported the actions of the police, “preventing an attack on a permitted event.”
