The streets of downtown Rome lit up with torches on Thursday evening as
30,000 demonstrators turned out to protest a spate of violence against gays in the city and
across Italy.

According to the Associated Press, the demonstration, which ended at the Colosseum, was led by groups and politicians from all of the main political parties to condemn stabbings, bombings, and beatings.

One group that included Roman mayor Gianni Alemanno, a right-winger and former neo-fascist, held a banner that read, "Rome is against intolerance and all racism." Alemanno has called for antidiscrimination laws to stop violence against gay people.