DEMONSTRATORS CARRYING FLAGS, PLACARDS: THEY CHANT ANTI-NIXON SLOGANS: NEO-FASCISTS DISTRIBUTE SUPPORTING NIXON (NATSOF)




Initials SW/V/BOB/SS



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Background: FOUR THOUSAND POLICE STOOD BY IN ROME TO GUARD AGAINST VIOLENCE IN DEMONSTRATIONS SCHEDULED FOR MR. NIXON'S ARRIVAL THIS AFTERNOON. LAST NIGHT (WEDNESDAY) COMMUNISTS AND STUDENTS STAGED PROTEST MARCHES THROUGH THE CITY.

ROME UNIVERSITY WAS OCCUPIED LAST NIGHT AFTER CLASHES WITH POLICE DURING A PROTEST MARCH AGAINST PRESIDENT NIXON'S VISIT TO ROME. 26 PEOPLE WERE INJURED AND 17 ARRESTED, AND A MOLOTOY COCKTAIL WAS THROWN AT AN AMERICAN COMPANY OFFICE.

THE DEMONSTRATION BEGAN WHEN 2,500 STUDENTS COLLECTED OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY, AND JOINING WITH COMMUNISTS MARCHED THROUGH THE CITY, CHANTING ANTI-NIXON SLOGANS AND WAVING RED FLAGS. PRO NIXON NEO-FASCISTS DISTRIBUTED LEAFLETS.

LATER, WHEN THE 12 FACULTIES OF THE UNIVERSITY WERE OCCUPIED, STUDENTS BUILT BARRIERS OF PAVING-STONES OUTSIDE THE CAMPUS, AND THEY BLOCKED THE HUGE GATES OF THE CAMPUS WITH WOODEN STAVES AND SCAFFOLDING.