The Pro Palestina march in Turin blocks Porta Nuova station for an hour. Bonfire in Corso Vittorio, a bank and a petrol station were defaced

Porta Nuova station paralyzed for two hoursrailway traffic suspended, trains delayed by 80 minutes and around twenty races cancelled. But also defaced shop windows, blocked roads and the Israeli flag burned during an improvised bonfire in Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The chronicle of a Saturday of “ordinary hardship” in the center of Turin it begins at 3pm, in front of the steps of Palazzo Nuovo, where the students who have been occupying the university buildings and the Turin activists for Gaza meet for 4 weeks.

The Pro Palestine march is about to leave and there is also Brahim Baya, influencer and spokesperson for the Taiba Mosque, protagonist of the “anti-Zionist sermon” in the corridors of the university. «I am participating as a militant, I am here like many people of different cultures to denounce the massacre that is still ongoing. I was exploited to attack students and for the right-wing electoral campaign. With the exception of the Popein 8 months no one from the Catholic Church has commented on what is happening in Palestine.”

After the departure of the procession, Baya is no longer seen and keeps well away from the riots. More than 400 people head towards Porta Palazzo behind smoke bombs of all colors and the banner “Intifada everywhere”. Then a group of guys with the covered face takes action by smearing it with red paint the facade of the Intesa Sanpaolo branch, in via San Francesco d’Assisi. The red torches obscure the cameras while the speaker explains from the microphone: «The problem of the agreements with the university depends on this bank». The spray cans also hit an Eni distributorbut the real objective is another.

According to plans the procession should reach the Valentino Castle, but in via Nizza around two hundred kids opt for a detour, break down a side gate of the Porta Nuova station and burst onto the tracks. It’s 6.10pm, the roadbed is occupied in a few minutes and the demonstration moves between the platforms. The words “Free Palestine” and “Free Gaza” appear on the sides of the convoys, while a heavy truck loaded with cans of paint also arrives. Rail traffic stops and train passengers get off to understand what is happening: «I returned to Turin to vote – says Giorgia – I had to return to Rome, but now everything is at a standstill». Someone insults the protesters, Sabrina instead defends them and tries to explain their reasons to two angry ladies. Hernan, an Argentinian, spreads his arms: «When I was at home it happened every day. I thought I was done with these things.”
Between music, beers and slogans, the students remain on the tracks until 7pm, but train traffic will resume only an hour later. Outside the station the choirs start again and at the intersection with Via Nizza a bonfire is lit with a pile of wood to burn the flag of Israel. «We have been occupying universities for four weeks to request an academic boycott against Israeli universities and companies that produce weapons – the students attack -. We feel the responsibility not to be complicit in the genocide.”

The procession, in reduced ranks, takes the road back to Palazzo Nuovo, followed at a distance by armored police vehicles blocking all access to the courtly squares. It’s all over: the students announce that the occupation will continue and the Digos, at the end of the demonstration, he identified 45 people, many of which can be traced back to Askatasuna. They will be reported for interruption of public service.

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June 8, 2024 (changed June 8, 2024 | 9:34 pm)

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