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Anti-immigration rally in Rome brings out thousands, incites counter-protest

Northern League leader Matteo Salvini spoke at the rally, criticizing Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's immigration policies and relationship with the European Union.

By Fred Lambert
People gather in the Piazza del Popolo, one of Rome's largest squares, in 2012. Thousands of right-wing protesters would pour into the square on Feb. 28, 2015, for a rally against Italy's immigration policies and the prime minister's relationship with the European Union. A leftist counter protest formed nearby. Photo by Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar/CC/Flickr
People gather in the Piazza del Popolo, one of Rome's largest squares, in 2012. Thousands of right-wing protesters would pour into the square on Feb. 28, 2015, for a rally against Italy's immigration policies and the prime minister's relationship with the European Union. A leftist counter protest formed nearby. Photo by Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar/CC/Flickr

ROME, March 1 (UPI) -- Right- and left-wing Italians held competing protests in Rome on Saturday as an anti-immigration rally attracted thousands of attendees and incited a leftist counter-demonstration.

Right-wing supporters of the Northern League poured into the Piazza del Popolo, or "People's Square," as the group's leader, Matteo Salvini, denounced the government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi based on his immigration policies and relationship with the European Union.

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"The problem isn't Renzi, Renzi is a pawn, Renzi is a dumb slave, at the disposal of some nameless person who wants to control all our lives from Brussels," Salvini said.

Salvini called immigration in Italy a "disaster" and Renzi a "foolish servant" to the EU. He further criticized the Italian government's policies on taxes, big business and banks and pined for a "different Europe, where banks count for less, and citizens and small businessmen count for more."

Meanwhile leftists, gay rights groups and anti-racism advocates held a counter-demonstration blocks away with signs bearing the slogan, "Never with Salvini".

Police were forced to block streets to keep the two rallies from clashing.

Italy has been the objective of thousands of migrants fleeing violence and poverty in North Africa and the Middle East. Instances of overcrowded boats capsizing in the Mediterranean have killed thousands.

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Human Rights Watch notes that the estimated 3,500 migrants who died last year making the crossing would have been a much higher number if not for the efforts of the Italian Navy.

In April of last year Salvini called for an end to "Mare Nostrum," the name given to Italy's migrant rescue operations, saying the effort cost the country $414,362, or 300,000 euros, per day.

Last September Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano warned of possible terrorists among incoming migrant populations.

Mare Nostrum ended late last year and a smaller European Union operation called Operation Triton took over, but United Nations leaders predicted more migrant deaths due to lighter efforts.

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