Protesters on the streets of Milan on Day 1 of the Winter Olympic Games
Protesters on the streets of Milan on Day 1 of the Winter Olympic Games
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Today’s protest march against Olympics organizers in Milan drew groups from the city, Lombardy and the rest of northern Italy.
An activist organization called the Unsustainable Olympics Committee mobilized a wide coalition: grassroots sports groups, civic and environmental movements, students, housing activists, combative unions, pro‑Palestine networks and transfeminist collectives.
It was a largely peaceful afternoon, with protesters holding signs, marching arm-in-arm, singing and dancing. But after night fell, CNN saw some intense clashes between demonstrators and police.
How it unfolded: After marching from Piazza Medaglie d’Oro, the protesters passed near the Olympic Village, where a large police cordon could be seen securing the area. Some demonstrators threw firecrackers and smoke bombs toward the athletes’ housing — although the buildings were far enough away that none of the objects could actually reach them.
The march then diverted left onto Via Benaco, moving away from the Village.
Clashes began when the protest reached Piazzale Corvetto. The first confrontations erupted there: a smaller group of protesters threw fireworks at police, who responded with a charge. Demonstrators later targeted police vans with additional fireworks. Officers deployed water cannons and tear gas in response.
Not all the protesters joined in on the clashes with authorities, with many demonstrators remaining in the main area of the square.