Warden Messages - Archive

(February 7, 2007) - Anti-U.S. Protest Planned in Vicenza on February 17, 2007

According to local authorities, a major anti-U.S. protest is planned for February 17, 2007 in Vicenza, Italy. The protest is planned in response to the Italian government’s recent approval of an expanded U.S. military base in Vicenza, a city in northeast Italy. Law enforcement authorities estimate that 70,000 (seventy-thousand) participants, from a number of groups opposed to the base expansion, are possible. Although violence is not expected, some of the groups who may participate in the protest have been disruptive in the past. While the protesters have called for nation-wide demonstrations in support of their action in Vicenza, authorities cannot estimate the likelihood or extent of protests outside of the Vicenza area.

To date, there is no projected route for the demonstration, but there will likely be traffic flow disruptions, significant police activity, and impassable roadways in and around Vicenza’s congested town center and at the military base areas.

U.S. citizens are advised to avoid Vicenza’s town center and military base areas from February 16, 2007 to February 18, 2007 to avoid becoming targets of opportunity for anti-U.S. protesters. U.S. citizens should monitor local media for updated information on the planned demonstration prior to February 17, 2007.

The U.S. Embassy Consular Section in Rome is located at Via Vittorio Veneto, 121. The telephone number is 06-4674-1. Our website is: italy.usembassy.gov

U.S. Consulates in Italy are located in:
MILAN: Via Principe Amedeo, 2/10; telephone number: 02-290-351
FLORENCE: Lungarno A. Vespucci, 8; telephone number: 055-266-951
NAPLES: Piazza della Repubblica; telephone number: 081-583-8111

U.S. Consular Agents in Italy are located in:
GENOA: Via Dante, 2
PALERMO: Via Vaccarini, 1
VENICE: Marco Polo Airport, General Aviation Terminal, Viale Galileo Galilei, 30

As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its Consular Information Program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.