Battle of Valle Giulia in Rome Between Students and Police

Fausto Giaccone, Fight between police and students outside the School of Architecture at Valle Giulia. Rome, 1 March 1968. From ’68. Un anno di confine (Milano, 2008) LF.31.b.4963 

On March 1st, 1968, a contingent of 4,000 students marched onto the campus of University of Rome.  Some students saw an opportunity to seize the school and begin a protest occupation.   They were met by a cordon of Italian police officers and the situation rapidly turned violent. A pitched battle of students throwing rocks and eggs were met with Police hurling tear gas cannisters.

Overall, some 478 students and 128 police officers were injured, and there were 228 arrests.  The melee also resulted in 8 police cars destroyed and 5 guns gone missing.

The persistence of the students in the face of armed police officers caught the authorities by surprise, and the phrase, "we didn't run away," became an anthem of resistance in Italy.

non siam scappati piu

Sources:

The Battle of Valle Giulia 50 Years After - 1 March 1968, European Studies Blog, British Library
Wikipedia.
Video of the actual Battle of Valle Giulia, Youtube.