ROSARNO: Thousands of immigrants protested against racism in a southern Italian town on Friday, after a night of rioting that was sparked by an attack on African farm workers by a gang of white youths.
In one of Italy’s worst episodes of racial unrest in years, dozens of Africans in Rosarno, in the Calabria region, smashed car windows with steel bars and stones and set cars and rubbish bins on fire late into Thursday night.
The immigrants, who also blocked a road, clashed with police in riot gear. Some 15 were arrested and 20 were injured.
On Friday morning some 2,000 immigrants demonstrated in front of the town hall to protest against what they said was racist treatment by many locals.
Calabrian regional governor Agazio Loiero said while the action of the immigrants was totally unjustified, he acknowledged there had been “a strong provocation.”
Italy has taken a hard line against illegal immigration and has moved to stem a tide of boatloads of immigrants who try to arrive on its shores from Africa.
Some boats have been turned back on the open seas.
