ROME — Thousands of students and workers took to the streets across Italy today, calling for more school funding and relief from the soaring cost of living, amid a high police presence to avert possible clashes.

Friday’s Italy-wide protest comes after weeks of demonstrations, led by students who have set up tent camps and occupied schools to make their demands heard, fuelled by similar movements in nearby France and Spain.

A general strike called by Italy’s USB trade union attracted thousands of workers to today’s protests, including truck drivers, taxi drivers and farmers who have rallied in recent weeks over the spike in fuel prices and to oppose rising defence spending.

Marches were held in dozens of cities up and down the country, including in Bologna, Genoa, Naples, and Turin—where a few minor skirmishes between protesters and riot police occurred at the start of the protest.

In Rome, university student Beatrice Chilelli told AFP students were “at a breaking point”.

“They can’t afford to pay exorbitant tuition fees, and rent... which weighs heavily on their parents’ shoulders,” said the 21-year-old, citing student housing in Rome that could reach 1,200 euros per month for a single room.

Thousands of people left Rome’s central Termini train station, accompanied by two tractors and a taxi, making their way past the Colosseum as they waved flags, unfurled banners and shouted into megaphones.

An AFP photographer witnessed a heavy police presence outside the Economy Ministry, which the procession passed by.

“We need more houses, not bombs!” sang one group in the crowd, as a troupe of protesters gave a brief performance imitating terrified civilians in a Gaza bombing raid.