According to student accounts the attacks launched by the rightwing student began shortly after the "Gelmini" decree was voted into law. As the situation degenerated in Piazza Navona the youngest demonstrators panicked and began to run out of the Piazza into the side streets. I found groups of them crying and trembling in the side streets where shop owners and artisans gathered round to help and comfort them. A mechanic put chairs in the street and a bar offered bottles of water. I saw no signs of violence on these children although they were deeply shaken. Out of a sense of respect I did not photograph them. I felt it would violate their right to privacy in a moment like this. However, it was difficult to make sense of what had happened.

Back on Vittorio Emanuele the mood had changed decisively. There was a visible sense of unrest as everyone sought to understand what had happened. In this situation the police outside the Piazza exchanged information, offered advice and negotiated with the student "coordinators" on what could be done or not. At one point a "coordinator" dressed down another one for having used a too inflammatory language to communicate what had happened in the Piazza. Shortly after the police opened up a corridor to let demonstrators leave the Piazza by passing near the Senate through police barriers.

My impression was that for whatever had occurred or was still going on in the Piazza, both the demonstrators and the police authorities outside the piazza collaborated in the best possible way to reduce tension.

The mood has changed.

An officer negotiates with student group coordinators on what actions by the students will be allowed.

A student group coordinator upbraids another for having used excessive language in describing what has been going on in the piazza.

Waiting...