Riots in Rome? Occupy Wall Street going to Piazza di Spagna? | Print |
Written by Larry Aiello   
Saturday, 15 October 2011 23:37

I am reading reports of riots in Rome, Italy, from a similar movement that has been spreading across the world called Occupy Wall Street.  A movement, for the most part, against corporate greed.

Demonstrators took to the streets of downtown Rome, and streets close the the Colosseum where they smashed bank windows, set cars aflame with torches, and hurled botttles toward the carabinieri (Italian police).

Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno said the violence in Rome was a result of

"a few thousand thugs from all over Italy, and possibly from all over Europe, who infiltrated the demonstration."

Some of the museums in Rome had to shut down due to the violence.  We will have to keep an eye on this to see if it is an isolated incident, or if there will be more upcoming riots.  Obviously, this can have a huge impact on Italian tourism, a major economic engine for the European country.  Ironically, these protestors can make the economic situation worse if Italy suffers a black eye in the world public perception (i.e. see Greece).  What do you think?