Tens of thousands of people came out this Saturday to demonstrate in Rome and other Italian cities to protest against the war and call for peace in Ukraine and around the world under the slogan «Europe for Peace».
«We are more than 100,000», have assured the organizations convening the march in the Italian capital, between Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza San Giovanni.
Trade unions and more than 500 civil associations took part, calling for a cease-fire in Ukraine and in all open wars in the world, amidst rainbow flags and banners with the word «Peace» in ten languages.
The demonstration was attended by the leader of the 5 Star Movement, Giuseppe Conte, the secretary of the Italian General Confederation of Labor (CGIL), Maurizio Landini, the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, and the president of the Lazio region, Nicola Zingaretti.
«There are so many of us today to call for an immediate cease-fire,» a spokesman for the Italian League for Peace and Disarmament said from the stage, as reported by Sky-Tg24.
Conte, for his part, stressed that «citizens are today in the squares to make their voices heard, tired of a strategy that leads to a military escalation». The time has come «to push for peace negotiations,» he said.
The secretary general of the Democratic Party, Enrico Letta, was also present: «I am here because peace is the most important thing of all. We are here to give our opinion, in silence, marching, as I believe it is our right to do at this moment for peace, for Ukraine, to put an end to this war and to put an end to Russia’s invasion.»