As many of you may know, there was rioting yesterday in the center of Rome. I promise I am safe and sound in my apartment going a tad crazy with all my studying. Here's what I know about the riots:
On Friday, Berlusconi (the extremely corrupt and hated prime minister) narrowly was given his 5st confidence vote in three years. Italians are fed up with the corruption, and are saying that Italy will become the next Greece.
Yesterday, Occupy Wall Street spread worldwide to Tokyo, London, Sydney, Hong Kong, as well as right here in Rome. Occupy Rome began as a peaceful demonstration like normal, but a group of hooded demonstrators (referred to as the black bloc) upset by the event on Friday, decided to act violent. Cars and garbage cans were lit afire. Flames from a burning car caught onto the annex of the Ministry of Defense where protestors had already trashed the offices inside. ATMS were broken, window of shops smashed. Rocks were pelted at police vans, and police fought back with tear gas.
Footage I saw yesterday showed black smoke coming from behind the Colosseum. It literally looked as if Rome is burning. It was so weird seeing streets I walk down several times a week filled with violence. I feel like my backyard has been invaded! Hopefully everything can hang tight until after we leave this week.
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