A-Infos (en) Italy, Umanita Nova #27-25 - Solidarity without borders. Rome, October 4th, for a free Palestine (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

The grassroots mobilization ---- In recent weeks, a national 
socio-political movement has emerged in Italy unlike anything seen in 
nearly 20 years. ---- The wave of indignation and insurrection was 
sparked by the now intolerable genocide of the Palestinian people and 
the acts of piracy and kidnapping against the crews of the Global Sumud 
Flotilla perpetrated by the State of Israel. But as it gradually grew 
and gained strength, this wave inevitably encompassed a vast number of 
social, trade union, work, student, and youth groups, encompassing every 
social and personal condition, age group, and origin.

A gigantic convergence, finally unitary and dialoguing while maintaining 
individual specificities and identities.

The first overwhelming sign of this powerful grassroots movement was the 
nationwide general strike of September 22nd and the formation of 
permanent solidarity protests at train stations and logistics and 
commercial hubs in many cities. The Roman protest was set up near 
Termini Station in Piazza dei Cinquecento, symbolically renamed Piazza Gaza.

The popular mobilization took shape in as many as 100 Italian cities, 
taking to the streets on the evening of October 1st and the afternoon of 
the 2nd, following the news of the unlawful wiretaps and arrests carried 
out by Israeli military forces in international waters off the 
Palestinian coast and in Gaza's territorial jurisdiction. It culminated 
in the national general strike and numerous city marches on October 3rd, 
culminating in the large national march on October 4th in Rome and the 
simultaneous demonstrations of support in other cities.

The Rome march on October 4, called by Palestinian associations in Italy 
and grassroots unions, not only unequivocally expressed solidarity with 
the victims of the Palestinian holocaust, but also pointed the finger at 
the war economy imposed by capitalist imperialism, of which the Meloni 
government and the sham opposition are colluding instruments. And above 
all, it pointed the finger at their complicity in the genocide of a 
defenseless people, crushed between the attempt to establish a new 
Islamic theocracy by Hamas and its geopolitical allies and the business 
ambitions of multinationals already vying for the construction of the 
"Gaza Riviera," for the use and consumption of wealthy, unscrupulous 
Zionists who, in order to seize control of the Gaza Strip and the West 
Bank, do not hesitate to slaughter men, women, elderly people, and 
children, calling them "terrorist enemies of Israel."

All the street demonstrations have received the applause and solidarity 
of those who, unable to actively participate in the demonstrations and 
work stoppages, have expressed solidarity with the movement and the 
victims of the genocide since September 22nd. The prevailing propaganda, 
which has vainly and falsely blathered about the profound disapproval of 
users of public and private services and businesses blocked by the 
demonstrations and strikes, has been in vain.

Participation

Despite the police deploying every possible sabotage tactic, the march 
proceeded largely peacefully. Photos and aerial footage support the 
organizers' estimates of an exceptional turnout. While the number of 
people attending the event fell short of a million, the actual figure is 
very close.

The overall turnout for the demonstrations that have taken place across 
Italy in recent days has reached unprecedented levels.

The Bakunin Anarchist Group

The Bakunin Anarchist Group has participated in all the mobilizations of 
recent weeks, in continuity with its action to oppose the genocide of 
the Gaza people, the massacre of all innocent victims, militarism and 
theocracy, denounced since the attack of October 7, 2023.

On October 4th, a particularly well-attended demonstration took place 
(with dozens of comrades), marching behind a banner bearing the slogan 
"neither God, nor state, nor war: all free in a free land!".

For a certain stretch, the LEA (Anti-Racist Jewish Laboratory) also 
marched with its banner reading "No one will be free until we are all 
free" alongside Bakunin's, demonstrating its total rejection of 
anti-Semitic positions and its assertion of its anti-Zionist, 
anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist, and anti-nationalist ideas, and its 
opposition to all forms of authoritarian and discriminatory oppression. 
This was in stark opposition to the simplification of the binary 
reasoning: "anti-Zionist = anti-Semitic / Zionist = good citizen", with 
which government propaganda seeks to manipulate public opinion.

In particular, the Bakunin Anarchist Group, on this occasion too, 
coherently questioned the entire framework of the concept of state, 
nationalism and theocracy, within the specific political debate.

An effective summary of this is the slogan the group adopted for the 
banner it carried in the square until yesterday afternoon, when once 
again young people showed increasing interest and participation, as is 
happening during the initiatives and conferences organized at the 
Anarchist Space at Via Vettor Fausto, 3 Rome.

We are not with them!

A notable feature of the entire movement is its total dissociation from 
any form of state violence, ethnic-religious discrimination, and 
supremacism of any kind, and its pressing demand for freedom and 
self-determination for the Palestinian people, free from any attempt at 
further oppression (see Hamas's refusal to disarm and its 
counter-proposal, thrown onto the table during the negotiations 
"mediated" by Trump, to entrust the management of the Gaza Strip to a 
technocratic Palestinian government in which the armed party wants to 
have a predominant role).

The raging river of bodies and voices that swept through Rome, mostly 
peacefully, was made up of a heterogeneous group spanning every age 
group, though mostly young and very young, origin, physical and social 
condition. Considering the scope of the converging movement that has 
spontaneously formed in recent days, it is impossible to deny that it 
represents the REAL country.

From yesterday onwards, government propaganda will no longer be able to 
mystify reality by mendaciously shouting "Italy is with us".

WE ARE NOT AT ALL!

Lessons in humanity from those who simply can't take a long weekend.

Inmates with work permits at Bologna's Dozza prison went on strike in 
solidarity with the Gaza and West Bank population.

Their statement, among other things, reads:

"For us inmates, going to work is a moment of freedom from the prison 
environment we live in. Despite this, we give up a day of freedom and 
our wages."

"Divide and conquer" no longer works.

During the massive demonstrations of recent days, the reference to the 
choices made by this government has been very strong: the reckless use 
of the PNRR to favor military spending rather than social spending 
(healthcare, education, welfare, and social security have paid the 
consequences), the repression and growing authoritarianism (security 
decrees, gag laws, etc.), the subjugation to militarist, capitalist, and 
imperialist forces, and the complicity in the Palestinian genocide.

Added to this is the creation and persistence of the Russian-Ukrainian 
crisis which led to the proxy war fought in those territories.

This has led to persistent calls for the Meloni government to resign.

But what sequel will it have?

Can the driving force generated by the emotional wave caused by the now 
unbearable persistence of the Palestinian Holocaust evolve into a 
lasting political and social force? And for how long, before exploding 
in the hands of those who are riding its long wave?

Will the unions and grassroots movements, thanks also to the 
shortsightedness of the CGIL in spectacularly failing to implement both 
timing and political strategy with the mini-strike on Friday, September 
19, manage to stay atop this tiger and have the capacity and political 
strength to manage what appears (and hopefully will) be a turning point 
of historic significance for Italy?

Conversely, how will the government, pressed by the growing resurgence 
of popular critical consciousness, react? Could the oppressive systems 
implemented to date become a backlash or a reactive ebb from a 
population now exhausted by the economic and social crisis?

This movement, likened to a socio-political tsunami, must now find a way 
to permanently monitor and mobilize every workplace, school, and 
university, as well as every other social and cultural environment and 
level.

It must have the strength to continue blocking logistical and commercial 
hubs, the transport of goods and supplies to and from Israel.

He must hold on to every inch he's regained against what seemed like an 
inevitable right-wing supremacy, but has instead been shaken to its 
foundations in just five days. And it's starting to show signs of 
weakening, with the stammering of querulous figures like Tajani and 
Salvini and Meloni's now ineffective and disavowed victim mentality.

In the unwavering convergence demonstrated by all the diverse social and 
political forces that have organized themselves from the bottom up and 
united to finally bring about profound change in this country, a 
critical conscience that has been dormant for too long under the heavy 
blanket of precariousness affecting every aspect of the population's 
life seems to have been reawakened.

A libertarian system may not be achieved, but there is a real 
possibility of restoring some fundamental freedoms and rights eroded by 
the increasingly oppressive authoritarian system implemented by the 
government. And perhaps even of reestablishing social guarantees, 
economic dignity, and freedoms, which have been ravaged by attacks that, 
since Berlusconi's rise, have devastated the lower classes, in favor of 
a liberalism that serves only to pad the power and pockets of capitalists.

Meanwhile, 11 more vessels have weighed anchor from Italy: their route 
through the eastern Mediterranean is headed toward the coast between 
Gaza and Egypt, in a renewed attempt to break Israel's illicit naval 
blockade. Arrival is expected in four days.

The wind is changing. And it's blowing ever harder, like on the sails of 
the new flotilla.

Fricche, Melitea and Nestor

https://umanitanova.org/solidarieta-senza-confini-roma-4-ottobre-per-una-palestina-libera/
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