Man throws red paint in Roman Trevi fountain to protest film festival
{{date|October 20, 2007}}
{{Article-audiobrief|filename=Audio_Wikinews_Brief_2007-10-21.ogg|commonsurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Audio_Wikinews_Brief_2007-10-21.ogg|align=right}}
[[Image:Fontana di Trevi 19 ottobre 2007.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Tourists got an extra treat as the famous fountain turned red.{{Image source|[http://www.flickr.com/people/19038775@N00 Diego]}}]]
To protest the [[w:euro|€]]15 million budget of the RomeFilmFest, a man yesterday threw a bucket of red paint into the famous [[w:Trevi Fountain|Trevi Fountain]] in [[w:Rome|Rome]], before fleeing the scene. The water in the fountain turned complete red for a while, before technicians were able to cut off the water supply, let the dye wash out, and then replace it with fresh water.

Pamphlets by a previously unknown group called ATM Azionefuturista 2007 were found near the fountain, protesting the budget the festival was awarded. The red fountain was meant as a reference to the red carpet of the festival, which opened last Thursday, October 18. "You wanted just a red carpet - we want a city entirely in vermilion. We who are vulnerable, old, ill, students, workers, we come with vermilion to colour your greyness," the leaflet read.

There is no permanent discoloration of the Baroque fountain or the marble statues depicting the Roman Sea God [[w:Neptune (mythology)|Neptune]] on a chariot. [[w:Francesco Rutelli|Francesco Rutelli]], Minister of Culture and Tourism in [[Italy]], called the action "an unacceptable and irresponsible act of vandalism" and said that new anti-vandalism laws were needed.

On April 22, 2007, a 40-year-old woman from [[w:Milan|Milan]] swam naked in the fountain, getting her picture into international newspapers. Tourists throw roughly 3000 euro into the Trevi fountain each day, for good luck. The coins are removed at night and have been used to sponsor a supermarket for Rome's needy citizens.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
{{wikipediapar|Trevi Fountain}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7053908.stm
|title=Minister sees red at Trevi prank
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=October 20, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008891368
|title=Man Throws Red Dye Into Trevi Fountain In Rome Denouncing Rome Film Festival
|author=Ishita Sukhadwala
|pub=All Headline News
|date=October 20, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-30074520071019
|title=Waters of Rome's Trevi fountain turn red
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=October 20, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jDwQ5kjHntuhAdLy-KewG1MGdSYQ
|title=Rome's Trevi Fountain flows blood-red in 'anarchist' protest
|author=
|pub=AFP
|date=October 19, 2007}}

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[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Rome]]

[[es:Un hombre arroja pintura roja en la Fontana di Trevi para protestar contra festival de cine]]
[[it:Roma: vandali colorano l'acqua della Fontana di Trevi, a rischio i marmi]]
[[pt:Tinta vermelha é jogada na Fontana di Trevi]]
Tourists got an extra treat as the famous fountain turned red.
To protest the €15 million budget of the RomeFilmFest, a man yesterday threw a bucket of red paint into the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome, before fleeing the scene. The water in the fountain turned complete red for a while, before technicians were able to cut off the water supply, let the dye wash out, and then replace it with fresh water.

Pamphlets by a previously unknown group called ATM Azionefuturista 2007 were found near the fountain, protesting the budget the festival was awarded. The red fountain was meant as a reference to the red carpet of the festival, which opened last Thursday, October 18. "You wanted just a red carpet - we want a city entirely in vermilion. We who are vulnerable, old, ill, students, workers, we come with vermilion to colour your greyness," the leaflet read.

There is no permanent discoloration of the Baroque fountain or the marble statues depicting the Roman Sea God Neptune on a chariot. Francesco Rutelli, Minister of Culture and Tourism in Italy, called the action "an unacceptable and irresponsible act of vandalism" and said that new anti-vandalism laws were needed.

On April 22, 2007, a 40-year-old woman from Milan swam naked in the fountain, getting her picture into international newspapers. Tourists throw roughly 3000 euro into the Trevi fountain each day, for good luck. The coins are removed at night and have been used to sponsor a supermarket for Rome's needy citizens.

es:Un hombre arroja pintura roja en la Fontana di Trevi para protestar contra festival de cine
it:Roma: vandali colorano l'acqua della Fontana di Trevi, a rischio i marmi
Tinta vermelha é jogada na Fontana di Trevi
Italy Europe Culture and entertainment Crime and law Rome