Milan has witnessed a series of protests led by activists from the environmental and social movement Ultima Generazione, who have carried out three direct actions at the restaurant of renowned chef Carlo Cracco, located in the exclusive Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The protests have brought the issues of social inequality and access to food into the spotlight, provoking responses from both the chef and the authorities.

Three protests in less than ten days

On March 19, five activists demonstrated in front of the restaurant with banners, asking Cracco to open his restaurant once a week to provide free meals for people in vulnerable situations. During the action, they managed to enter the establishment and present their demands directly.

On March 23, in a more symbolic and disruptive act, several activists poured three bottles of tomato sauce onto the restaurant's terrace as part of the "Il Giusto Prezzo" campaign, which aims to raise awareness about equitable access to food and the high costs of luxury dining.

Finally, on March 26, three young women entered the restaurant, sat at a table, and spilled wine as a form of protest. According to the accounts of the protesters, chef Carlo Cracco came out of the kitchen and took one of their phones, leading to a complaint being filed against him for alleged theft.

The response from authorities and the chef

In response to these actions, Milan's questore, Bruno Megale, took decisive measures against the protesters. A total of seven eviction orders from the city were issued, along with two restrictions on entering Milan for two years and 11 bans on access to public venues (Dacur) directed at the activists involved.

For his part, Carlo Cracco responded to the protests with a social media post, where he stated that his restaurant does not offer "pasti sospesi" (suspended meals for those in need) but does offer plenty of "free publicity" to the activists. This response has sparked further controversy on social media, dividing opinions between those who support the chef and those who consider the movement's demands legitimate.

A debate about luxury and inequality

The Ultima Generazione protests have reignited the debate on economic inequality and access to food in Italy. While some believe the movement's actions are an effective way to highlight a real issue, others think that attacking private businesses is not the right way to generate structural change.

What is certain is that these actions have brought an important conversation to the forefront regarding access to food in a society where luxury dining coexists with poverty. It remains to be seen whether these protests will have an impact beyond the controversy and if they will influence future policies on inclusion and support for the most vulnerable sectors.