Italy's youth-driven "Sardine Movement", formed to oppose the far-right League party, is planning new rallies after staging large demonstrations in the north of the country.

The movement launched by four little-known youths says the anti-immigration League party led by Matteo Salvini represents hate and exclusion.

Some 15,000 people attended a rally in Bologna on Saturday, compared with around 5,000 who showed up for a League rally there the same day.

"We think the ideas propagated by the League are unacceptable," Paolo Ranzani, a photographer with the Sardine Movement, said on Facebook.

In Modena on Monday more than 7,000 activists, singing an anti-fascist anthem, protested Salvini's campaign to wrest control of the wealthy leftist bastion of Emilia-Romagna in January regional elections.

The sardine has become a symbol of protest against Salvini, a former interior minister.

Polls show that the right-wing coalition led by the League is building in strength in the north after winning a historic victory in regional polls in central Umbria, which had been led by the left for half a century.

"But sardines are strong and can become a huge wave, a tsunami," another supporter said on Facebook, where the group's page is titled "The Sardines' Archipelago".

New protests have been called in the northern cities of Reggio Emilia, Rimini and Parma, where Salvini has also planned rallies.

A Sardines founder, 32-year-old Mattia Santori, said on Facebook that a protest was also planned in Milan, a League stronghold.

kv-fio/avz/gd/pvh

FACEBOOK

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Twitter exempts some 'cause-based' messages from political ad ban
Washington (AFP) Nov 15, 2019
Twitter said Friday its ban on political ads will exempt "caused-based" messages on topics related to social or environmental issues. The San Francisco-based messaging platform unveiled details of its move to bar all paid political messages, starting November 22, while easing concerns expressed by activists for social causes. "Ads that educate, raise awareness, and/or call for people to take action in connection with civic engagement, economic growth, environmental stewardship, or social equity ... read more