Milan, March 8th – Approximately 10,000 individuals participated in a demonstration in Milan on Friday, March 8th, to commemorate International Women’s Day. The march, organized by the “Non una di meno” (Not One Less) collective, commenced at Piazza Duca d’Aosta and proceeded towards Piazza Fontana, advocating for the disarmament of war and patriarchy.
“Not in My Name. Stop Red Zones. Stop Deportations.”
The protest began with a large pink banner emblazoned with the slogan “Not in my name. Stop red zones. Stop deportations,” draped around Michelangelo Pistoletto’s “Reintegrated Apple” sculpture in Piazza Duca d’Aosta. This traditional annual event drew thousands, with estimates reaching 10,000 participants by the evening. Protesters carried signs, some featuring images of Medusa, and chanted slogans such as “Without consent it’s rape, without dissent it’s fascism.”
A statement from “Non una di meno” emphasized their message: “Today, Medusa has returned. She is not one, but many. The tour of rage against the culture of violence and rich and powerful rapists has begun,” urging the public to “disarm war and patriarchy. Our lives are worth it.”
Antagonists Occupy Pirellino Construction Site
During the march, a faction of antagonistic protesters accessed the construction site of the Pirellino, a former municipal building sold to the Coima group, which is currently under investigation for urban planning irregularities. They unfurled a banner proclaiming: “Long live social spaces. Let’s occupy it, let it be our city.” This incident marks a repeat occurrence, as members of social centers have previously entered the building’s construction site to display similar banners.
March Route and Demands
The Milan procession was organized to protest violence against women, condemn wars, and demand increased funding for anti-violence centers. The collective’s social media posts reiterated their core beliefs: “If our lives are not valued, we fight and strike.” They also asserted: “We fight against all forms of patriarchal violence, which from the Epstein system to the Bongiorno bill, from ‘rape lists’ in school bathrooms to our homes, kills us, oppresses us, suffocates us. For free and enthusiastic consent always: only yes means yes.”
The march followed a route through several key streets in Milan, including Via Pirelli, Via Melchiorre Gioia, Viale della Liberazione, Piazza della Repubblica, Via Tarchetti, Via Manin, Piazza Cavour, Via Senato, Via San Damiano, Via Visconti di Modrone, Via Borgogna, Largo Toscanini, Corso Europa, and concluding at Piazza Fontana.
Other Commemorative Events in the City
In parallel to the main march, other events took place across Milan. The Wall of Dolls Association organized a musical flash mob featuring Jo Squillo and a DJ set by Michelle Msullo at the Wall of Dolls, an initiative against femicide, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM in Via De Amicis 2.
At Piazza della Scala, a vigil promoted by the “Voices of Forgotten Women” movement, alongside Iranian, Ukrainian, and Venezuelan community associations, highlighted the achievements of women’s rights and denounced repression and discrimination in various countries, calling for shared solidarity and commitment between women and men.
Museums Offer Free Entry and Special Exhibitions
Culturally, the Fabbrica del Vapore is hosting the Mupa (Museum of Patriarchy) until March 21st. This exhibition, conceived by ActionAid, utilizes 27 artifacts, dioramas, and multimedia installations to explore the gender gap. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through time to 2148, the year when, according to the Global Gender Gap Report, gender equality is projected to be achieved.
Furthermore, on March 8th, state museums, archaeological parks, monumental complexes, castles, villas, and historic gardens offered free admission for all women. The Pinacoteca di Brera and the Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” also participated in this initiative promoted by the Ministry of Culture, with mandatory reservations for entry.
