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Nearly 20,000 people marched Saturday in Rome to protest racism and the Italian government's position on immigration.
They said the Italian populist government has been spreading a "climate of growing hatred" since coming to power five months ago.
Protesters were irritated by a disputed security decree defended by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, head of the far-right League, which strengthens the rules of immigration, limits the right to asylum and strengthens anti-terrorism and anti-mafia rules.
The bill was forcefully passed by the upper house after the government won a vote of confidence Wednesday and it must now be submitted to the lower house for approval.
The action was organized by far-left, anti-racist and anti-fascist groups. Roma families recently expelled from camps have joined students, migrants and refugees, as well as human rights activists from all over Italy.
The pro-refugee mayor of Riace – and recently suspended – Domenico Lucano, was among the protesters, denouncing what he described as a "fascist and racist drift" in Italy and Europe.
With Lucano as mayor, Riace made headlines for opening thousands of refugees, integrating them into society and revitalizing a declining rural population.
Accused of promoting illegal immigration, the mayor of the small Calabrian town was placed under house arrest in October. Although a court later overturned the decision, it is still forbidden to live in Riace.
