I'm here to show that I am opposed to fascism, says 18-year-old participant in the newly founded movement Sardinerne.

Tens of thousands of people participated Saturday in a demonstration in the capital of Italy, Rome, organized by the grassroots movement "Sardinerne".

Sardinerne was formed a month ago in Bologna by the 32-year-old Mattia Santori and three of his friends to protest against the radical right leader Matteo Salvini.

Police estimated that Saturday was met 40,000 people up in Rome to demonstrate.

They wanted going up against Salvini and his party to the League, which enjoys great popularity in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, where there is regionsvalg 26. January. It has for many years been a stronghold for the left.

the Salvini blew up earlier in the year inter-governmental cooperation with the authoritarian party Femstjernebevægelsen. He believes that if the left loses the elections, then it must also leave the coalition government in Rome.

After the break with the League selected Femstjernebevægelsen instead to cooperate in government with the social Democratic Party.

It was students, pensioners and families on a sunny Saturday filled up in Piazza San Giovanni in Rome. Some held pictures of sardines up and sang popular protest songs. Among them "Bella Ciao", which during the Second world War was a favorite antifascistisk song.

- I am here because I am opposed to Salvini. And I am against the right wing, and I want to see how many people feel just like me, said the 68-year-old retired biologist Flavia Simula.

- I'm here to show that I am opposed to fascism. And I considered Salvini to be a fascist, told the 18-year-old student Luca Baironi.

Since the first demonstration in Bologna has the grassroots movement spread to other cities in Italy. Participants refers to himself as sardines.

The turns especially towards the Salvinis and the uncompromising policy towards immigrants and immigrants and accusing him of blatant racism.

/ritzau/Reuters