Bari students join national strike against cost of living and school decree

Around 700 students in Bari joined the "No Meloni Day" national strike, protesting government policies on the cost of living and the school decree. The march, organized by 'Cambiare Rotta' and 'Osa', moved from Piazza Umberto to Piazza Prefettura. Protesters criticized deteriorating school buildings, cancelled assemblies, and a lack of democratic spaces, blaming government funds diverted to military spending. They also condemned the executive's failure to address inflation and high rents, which they say turns schools into "barracks". The Bari demonstration is part of nationwide actions leading up to a general strike called by the USB union for October 30. Students expressed their anger in the streets, echoing a slogan to "break the school-barracks" model.