Turin, Italy – On April 25, 2026, activists from Extinction Rebellion covered statues of Julius Caesar and Augustus at the Porta Palatina with a black cloth in a symbolic protest.

The statues, which were donated to the city by Mussolini in 1935, were also marked with a red poppy and a sign reading “Repudiate fascism, defend the Earth”.

The action took place at dawn on April 25, a day that marks Italy’s celebration of Resistance and Liberation from Nazi-fascist occupation. The group stated that the covering of the statues was not intended to erase history, but to reject the normalization of symbols and policies they associate with oppression.

Extinction Rebellion said the protest was also a response to the recent conversion into law of the government’s security decree, which they describe as restrictive toward peaceful dissent and harmful to marginalized groups, including people held in detention centers for migrants.

The group also referenced concerns raised about aspects of the law, including penalties affecting protest rights and provisions linked to voluntary repatriation incentives for migrants, which were later addressed through a corrective decree following institutional observations.

The activists said their actions are part of a wider campaign to reimagine urban spaces by challenging monuments and narratives they believe are incompatible with a fair society. Previous actions included symbolic renaming of streets in Turin and Biella.

Extinction Rebellion stated that the statues reflect historical propaganda from the fascist era, when references to ancient Rome were used to support political power and claims of continuity with the Roman Empire.

The group added that the protest reflects opposition to global conflicts over resources and environmental destruction, stating that in the face of climate collapse, the Earth must be defended rather than fascist values.

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