Peaceful Assembly
The high-speed rail connection between the Italian city of Turin and the French city of Lyon continues to spark controversy. The project has been under debate since its planning 30 years ago. The Senate debate on the project approval has contributed to a government crisis in which the far-right Lega party supports the construction, but the Five Star Movement opposes it.
The community resistance against the TAV project has been particularly concentrated in the affected Susa Valley in Italy. On 27th July 2019, thousands of people took to the streets and protested against the government's decision to continue the construction. According to reports, some demonstrators threw stones at the police and tried to open a grid to get access to the railway tracks. The police reacted with teargas and at least 80 demonstrators are currently on trial after the Turin police brought charges against them.
#Italy: Mass protest against TAV project in Susa valley of #Turin.#NoTAV activists together with residents & students, have been fighting against the construction of a high-speed rail line, against state repression & the corrupted capitalistic system.
— th1an1 (@th1an1) July 27, 2019
The battle continues. pic.twitter.com/MTl8Yc9PZ3