ABSTRACT
This chapter on the city of Bologna starts with a brief description of the national mobilization of 2010 called “A day without us: The strike of migrants,” which followed the financial crisis of 2008. In the city, this event was characterized by a plethora of leftist civil society actors and significant participation of immigrant workers and associations. The organizers emphasized the key role of immigrant workers in the country’s economy and sought to expose the fact that existing laws were racist and produced immigrants’ “illegality.” Bologna was one of the Italian cities with a high level of participation in the national strike and demonstrations. What is more, the strike was organized entirely from below, without the support of trade unions. Drawing links between specific interactions among local actors and the approaches to inclusion that prevail in the city, this chapter shows why and how this mobilization had such a great impact in Bologna in particular and why immigrant activists were so visible and involved in the organizations. The analysis shows how a plethora of actors of the left promoting participation have offered opportunities for immigrants to create their own political trajectory and to emerge as relevant political players. It also reveals conflicts and complex alliances between pro-immigrant groups and immigrant activists, including processes of marginalization of immigrant activists’ right claims, especially those who do not share the political views of Italian organizations.
