by InTrieste
Hundreds of people gathered in Trieste on Christmas Day for a march advocating for the rights and dignity of migrants. Organizers read the manifesto “Prima le persone” (“People First”), which criticized what it described as the neglect of society’s most vulnerable, highlighting the paradox of a region experiencing depopulation while resisting newcomers, and warning of the potential erosion of both future prospects and human compassion.
The demonstration began at Largo Santos and proceeded toward the city center before returning to Piazza Libertà. Strong winds, known locally as the bora, prevented participants from lighting candles, an intended symbolic gesture. Organizers suggested that the experience underscored the need to illuminate other aspects of society.
Speakers at the event emphasized the challenges faced by asylum seekers in the region, noting that roughly 30 new arrivals come to Trieste each day, according to the Consorzio Italiano di Solidarietà (ICS). They called for a reassessment of societal priorities and a renewed commitment to humanitarian values.
