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Thousands of Neo-Fascists celebrate 'March on Rome' centenary

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
30 Oct 2022 20:36
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Thousands of people paraded in Italy to celebrate the 100th-year anniversary of the coup that instated Benito Mussolini as Italy's PM and first Fascist leader

A participant holds a flag during a rally marking the centenary of the March on Rome which ushered in fascism

Thousands of people paraded in Emilia-Romagna, Benito Mussolini's birthplace and his burial ground, to celebrate the 100th-year anniversary of the "March on Rome", the event that led Mussolini's National Fascist Party to power in the Kingdom of Italy in 1922.

According to the Local police, around 2,000 supporters of the fascist leader roamed the streets of Predappio to celebrate the event.

However, despite Mussolini's grave attracting thousands of visitors yearly, this year was different, as the newly far-right PM Giorgia Meloni took the position, a first since the end of WW2.

According to the Italian news agency Ansa, the organizer of the march, Mirco Santarelli stated, "I'd have voted for Lucifer if he had defeated the left in Italy. So I'm glad we have the Meloni government."

The crowds attending the event held banners and raised Italian flags, while many in the crowds wore black to resemble Mussolini's love for black shirts, while others raised their right arms to give out a Fascist salute despite being instructed not to by organizers.

Orsola Mussolini, the great-granddaughter of Benito Mussolini, said, "If after 100 years we are still here, it is to pay tribute to the one whom this state wanted and to whom we will never fail in our admiration."

Benito Mussolini rose to power on October 28, 1992, after his forces stormed the Italian capital and seized control, where he was appointed a PM one day later, signaling the beginning of Italy's fascist rule.

It's noteworthy that newly elected Italian PM Giorgia Meloni is the leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, which is allied with two other right-wing parties. Despite Meloni's attempts to display her rejection of being linked to Italy's fascist past, she advocates Western sanctions on Russia and supports an old slogan adopted by fascists - "God, fatherland, and family."