EU after 12 years (9): The Gaza Supporters of Turin

Italy is synonymous with fashion, opera, dancing, art, history, great food, cinema, stars and all the glamour that a country can offer and everything pleasant that one would go to this country to see. However Europe, and Italy included, I've read, and seen to some extent, have changed a lot in the past 10 years or so. First it was the Syrian Civil War which poured millions into Europe and then the constant crossing of asylum seekers from Africa, war-torn or economically devastated countries to Europe. I will write about many refugees that I saw in Italy in a separate post but as you might have heard, the support for Gaza has been overwhelming in many European cities. 
I saw lots of graffiti and the so-called Palestine flags, if we agree that was and still is a country, in some neighbourhoods in Turin. I think it was my second day in that city when I noticed demonstrators in Piezza San Carlo and then in Via Antonio Bertola (Via in Italian mean Street). The funny thing is that the number of riot police squad members and the officers escorting this group was more than the marchers! 

Anti-riot police in full gear was following the small group of demonstrators. 

It's no doubt that all the Arabs who live in Italy and some Africans are supporters of Gaza but the fact is demonstrations in a country too far away from the conflict zone results in nothing. I condemn the Oct.07 attacks on civilians but then when Israeli forces started killing the civilians, particularly the innocent kids, women and elderly and their Prime Minister was charged with War Crime, my eyes got open. However, I still do not believe chanting slogans, waving flags and writing graffiti solves any problem. If any of those people who got engaged with riot police, threw rocks at them and burnt garbage cans and car, left Europe, got a weapon and stood against Israeli occupants, the story would have been different but none of them would like to live their 5-star hotel(!) in the slums of any European city because they have reached there from absolute zero! People are free to express themselves but that does not give them to calm their anger by damaging public or private property.
As per the demonstrators of Palestine or Gaza on that specific day in Turin, I can say that they were majority teenagers who simply wanted to walk the streets, smoke and laugh instead of sitting in a classroom and listen to their teachers and that's pathetic but I think that's cultural. I remember when i was their age, more than %98 of my classmate either were planning their future in colleges or as it was the war time, thinking of going to the front to stop the enemy, not walking and blocking the streets and shouting meaningless slogans! 

Graffiti on the wall in Sep.20 street in Turin in English!

Nevertheless this short demonstration did not result in any damage. Stratta, the cafe next to my hotel, closed just for a few minutes, just in case some of this hot shits is motivated to throw a rock or something at their store and then everything went back to normal. However, demonstrations, looting and clashes occurred in the next few days in some European cities including Milan as a result of price hike. I didn't have to witness any.

(Photo, top: This small group of teenagers, mostly, I don't know who were directing them were marching in Turin, I guess on the second day of my arrival. They were not more than 35 to 40! I know bigger rallies had taken place but I'd be embarrassed to be seen among this small group on the streets. You can see their banner and flag. I took this picture from too far away because I was not sure what the reaction would be)