This past Saturday in Rome, thousands of protestors filled Piazza San Giovanni to say NO to the ultra-fat racist Matteo Salvini and Italy’s far-right party. “The Sardines” are Italy’s new left grassroots movement that has swept through the establishment like a hurricane. It consists of young people and immigrants who are tired of the wave of hate that has engulfed Italy. The movement’s name comes from their ability to pack large crowds of people into small spaces.
Lead by Mattia Sartori and his friends from his university days, the group began its journey last month to counter the opening of Matteo Salvini’s political campaign in Bologna. “We stand for anti-fascism, pre-equality and are against intolerance and homophobia”, Mattia said about the group’s motives. Mattia and friends decided they would use Facebook invites to call for a flashmob rally in the main town square Piazza Maggiore. To their surprise, 15,000 people showed to participate.
Since then the movement has spread to every city in Italy. If you listen closely you can hear the crowds singing the anti-fascist resistance song, “Bella Ciao.”
The Social Insider 