Thousands of protesters are expected to march through Milan today to denounce soaring housing costs and urban unaffordability, coinciding with the first full day of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The demonstration, organised by grassroots unions, housing-rights groups, and social centre activists, targets what campaigners describe as an unsustainable city model.
The protest highlights spiralling rents and deepening inequality, exacerbated by a property boom following the 2015 World Expo. Locals have been squeezed by rising living costs, partly due to Italy's tax scheme for wealthy new residents and Brexit, which have drawn professionals to the financial capital.
Police estimate more than 3,000 individuals will join the march, starting at 3 pm (1400 GMT) from Medaglie d'Oro square and covering nearly four kilometres before ending in the working-class district of Corvetto. The action follows a series of pre-Games rallies denouncing the presence of US ICE agents and what activists call the social and economic burdens of the Olympic project.
Some groups argue the Olympics waste money and resources while housing remains unaffordable. The protest comes amid tight security as Milan hosts world leaders and athletes, including US Vice President JD Vance, who was jeered at Friday's opening ceremony. A hard-left rally in Turin last weekend turned violent, injuring over 100 police officers.
