Rome, Feb 26 (RHC)-- Thousands have joined a march against racism in the Italian capital Rome, mobilized by a pre-election period dominated by bitter debate over immigration.  Politicians, unionists and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni joined the march, plighted by rain, to call for a stop to racism and fascism in the country. 

Earlier this month, a 28-year-old Italian with declared Nazi sympathies went on a shooting spree in Macerata, a city in central Italy.  He shot and wounded six Black migrants before being stopped by police. 

Scuffles have broken out between far-left protesters and members of a neo-fascist party across Italy in the last few days in a sign of increasing tensions ahead of the March 4 national election.