Meanwhile on Tuesday morning, students at Genoa University demonstrated outside the academic senate to demand an end to participation in the foreign ministry’s call for proposals and agreements with Israeli universities and arms companies.
All protests were held in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Trouble broke out between students and police when several young people attempted to enter the rectorate where a meeting of the groups that had occupied the building was taking place.
They had said they were occupying the office to denounce the university’s “complicity” with Israel.
“Enough deals with Israeli universities and the war industry,” said the Cambiare Rotta (Change Course) group.
Universities Minister Anna Maria Bernini on Tuesday blasted the protests, describing them as “disgraceful” behaviour that goes well beyond the bounds of freedom of thought or peaceful protest.
“Total support for Deans [Antonella] Polimeni and [Federico] Delfino,” said Bernini.
“The occupation of the rector’s office at La Sapienza and the assault on the rector of the University of Genoa are disgraceful actions that go well beyond the free expression of thought or peaceful protest,” she said.
“Universities are not free zones where intimidation or crimes can be carried out.
“The violence that some collectives are imposing on the entire academic community is intolerable and has students as its main victims.
“I strongly condemn what is happening and I thank the police for their support,” said the minister.
Some allegedly autonomous protesters also showed up in Delfino’s office and shouted insults including “monster”, “assassin” and “person guilty of genocide”.
ANSA
