Among the estimated 10,000 people at the protest in Piazza del Popolo were far-right activists including the neo-fascist Forza Nuova group and its leader, Giuliano Castellino, who addressed the crowd.
Police deployed water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds over several hours of unrest, as several hundred people broke away from the main demonstration and attempted to reach the prime minister’s office, while others attacked and occupied the headquarters of CGIL, Italy’s largest trade union.
Thirty-eight police officers were injured in the clashes, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
A number of photos and videos have emerged on social media of mostly male protestors giving fascist salutes.
Other footage shows furniture upturned and objects strewn on the floor at the CGIL headquarters.
Italian police on Sunday arrested 12 members of Forza Nuova, including Castellino, following the clashes.
The demonstrators chanted anti-govt songs while doing the fascist salute (image below from a demo in May 21 organised by forza nova against "heathcare dictatorship". Ah the irony) 3/4 pic.twitter.com/ddivhrclBb
— Dr Sarah Scuzzarello (@SScuzzarello) October 10, 2021
Formed in 1997, Forza Nuova calls for an abortion ban, a total halt to immigration and the repeal of hate speech laws.
It has never achieved a score of even 0.5 per cent at any election, even when allied with other far-right groups.
Many politicians have now called for the party to be banned.
“We’ve had enough of violence by neo-fascist groups,” leading Democratic Party (PD) lawmaker, Emanuele Fiano, said.
“We will bring an urgent motion before parliament tomorrow calling on the government to dissolve Forza Nuova.”
A number of other MPs and members of Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s government back the move.
Health Minister Roberto Speranza said such violence is “unacceptable”, while Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio wrote on Facebook: “These are not protesters, they are criminals.”
The demonstration was organised in protest over an imminent requirement for workers in Italy to have the green pass certificate, which shows that they have been vaccinated, tested negative for COVID-19 in the previous 48 hours or recovered from the virus.
From October 15, all workers in Italy – in both the public and private sectors – will be required to present a green pass in the workplace or face suspension without pay.
Nearly 80 per cent of people over the age of 12 in Italy have been fully vaccinated, according to government statistics.
The first European country to feel the full force of the pandemic, Italy has recorded more than 130,000 deaths from the virus.
