Reportage
‘Make Europe Antifa Again’: Milan streets rise up against extremism and hate
In the Lombard capital, two very different demonstrations stressed the point that fascists won’t find any political purchase here.
In the end, the “Remigration Summit” had to be held 50 kilometers from Milan, not in the city as its organizers had promised. On Saturday, in the Lombard capital, two very different demonstrations stressed the point that fascists won’t find any political purchase here. In Piazza San Babila, from 2.30 p.m., NGOs, trade unions and center-left parties gathered together in protest. “Milan doesn’t want you. Repatriate yourself and your hatred”, read one banner. Peace flags flew beside those of the CGIL, the center-left parties – putting up a united front for the occasion – and the banners of dozens of participating NGOs.
“No room for hate. Milan is an open city” was the slogan. On the stage, PD secretary Elly Schlein, Green-Left Alliance leaders Nicola Fratoianni and Angelo Bonelli, and CGIL general secretary Maurizio Landini took turns. Each read out an article of the Constitution: Schlein chose Article 3 on equality, so as to leave no room for the “fear professionals” who spread hatred and racism. Such is the case with “remigration,” one of the ideas launched by a handful of fanatic white supremacists that have found a home in Matteo Salvini’s Lega, with the silent assent of its coalition partners, Fratelli d’Italia and Forza Italia.
We are at a point when even mass deportation no longer seems taboo for the parties in government. And the people in Piazza San Babila had an answer to those invoking freedom of thought to justify debating deportations and expulsions, in the form of a quote from Sandro Pertini: “All ideas must be respected. Fascism is not an idea. It is the death of all ideas.” Asked whether Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni should have spoken out against the extremist summit, Italian Left national secretary Fratoianni said: “I think she should have. Or at least she should have made sure her allies would not be doing what they are doing now.” Landini, taking care to remind people about the June 8-9 referendums, added: “We are not here against anyone. We are here to reaffirm the values of freedom, democracy and antifascism.”
At the same time, a different march set off from Largo Cairoli, consisting of the Antifa network of social center activists and young European antifascists. At the head of the march was a black banner reading “Make Europe Antifa Again,” which the marchers held steadfastly from start to finish, withstanding batons, water cannon and tear gas.
The demonstrators left at 3.30 p.m., featuring militants from Milan as well as Austria – homeland of the ideologue of “remigration,” Martin Sellner – Germany and France. Chants rang out in German and French, followed by antifascist and anti-police slogans. About 1,500 demonstrators tried to reach the Malpensa Express at Milano Cadorna station to travel to Busto Arsizio, where another antifascist rally was underway. Clashes erupted in Via Boccaccio: the front rows of protesters donned helmets and black protective vests. Police pushed them back with a charge and, after the protesters held their ground, with water cannons. The march regrouped and moved towards Palazzo delle Stelline, the Milan office of the European Commission, where it was again pushed back by police, this time with a dense volley of tear-gas canisters.
No shop windows were broken and no walls were defaced. The march remained compact throughout its route and finally reached the Pagano underground car park, where the protesters dispersed to the chant of “No border, no nation, stop remigration.”
Originally published at https://ilmanifesto.it/la-piazza-si-riempie-contro-i-fanatici-e-lodio on 2025-05-18