Three million people filled every square in Italy. It's extraordinary . Humanity, solidarity, and the fight for social justice took to the streets. It's a great event, and those in power should truly thank the people who took to the streets, who defended our country's honor and forcefully reaffirmed the need for brotherhood, social justice, and to stop the war.

Maurizio Landini said this on the sidelines of his book presentation in Bologna, summing up the weekend of demonstrations in support of the Palestinian people and in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla activists detained by the Israeli army. For Landini, "the fundamental innovation is that we are witnessing young people, the participation of a new generation that forcefully reaffirms the need for freedom, justice, and a future."

It should not be underestimated, Landini added, "that those who went on strike did not do so for a wage increase, but chose to take to the streets and forgo their wages because they realize that to improve their own conditions, we must improve the conditions of peace, when we are faced with genocide."

Yesterday, Landini also responded to criticism from government officials, particularly Transport Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini: "Those who participate in the marches are those who pay taxes and therefore also our ministers' salaries. They should kiss where these people tread. Not denigrate them or even threaten them."

Regarding the clashes with the police, the CGIL secretary commented: "Criminals and idiots have nothing to do with those who organized it. What happened yesterday in Rome seems very graphic to me: the marchers chased them out, shouted that they didn't want them, and it's no coincidence that they intervened when the demonstration was effectively over."