On 7 July, the confederation of grass-roots workers’ committees COBAS has organised a sit-in in Piazza Barberini near the United States embassy from 17.00 in conjunction with the communist parties and Rome’s centres of social activism (centri sociali). The organisers say they will place a large poster of each of the G8 leaders at the start of the eight roads leading onto the square. If the turn out is good enough they will also ask for authorisation to march away from the square, possibly towards the finance ministry in Via XX Settembre.
Then on 10 July, after the G8 summit has officially finished, COBAS is organising a march from the train station in the Abruzzo village of Paganica near the epicentre of the 6 April earthquake to L’Aquila around six kilometres away. The confederation says it has full authorisation for the protest march, which is due to begin around 10.00 and will also see participation from communist parties and social activism centres.
Other protests could be held in the capital and all over the country during the summit on 8-9 July.
The American embassy is advising US nationals to avoid the areas where the protests are taking place due to anti-American sentiment partly caused by the planned expansion of the military base in Vicenza, which caused protests in northern Italy on 4 July.
The tight security measures being implemented for the arrival of the G8 leaders, their spouses and delegations will cause other inconveniences such as road blocks and a significant police presence. Trials of “jammer” instruments which block telecommunications could also cause problems with mobile phones (interference, lack of signal, etc.) and credit card payments. Police say that every effort will be made to minimise the impact of the measures on the population.
Accessed from: http://www.wantedinrome.com/news/news.php?id_n=6017
