Italy's anti-Salvini 'sardines' take protest to Rome

Protesters attend a demonstration held by "the sardines", a grassroots movement against far-right League leader Matteo Salvini, in Rome, Italy, December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

ROME (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people joined a demonstration in central Rome on Saturday organised by a grassroots movement known as "the sardines", launched only a month ago to protest against far-right leader Matteo Salvini.

The sardines began in the city of Bologna in November when Mattia Santori, 32, and three friends invited people to protest against Salvini's League, whose popularity is high ahead of an election in the northern Emilia-Romagna region.