The Reggio revolt occurred from 5 July 1970 to 23 February 1971 during Italy's "Years of Lead". The decision to make Catanzaro, not Reggio Calabria, the capital of Calabria during a decentralization initiative made by the Italian government, led to protests in Reggio Calabria. Members of various groups, from far-left anarchists to the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement and National Vanguard, took part in strikes, street rioting, and road and railway blockades. The rebels formed an "Action Committee", which was dominated by young neo-fascists and backed by the 'Ndrangheta. Party and union headquarters were bombed, as well as the cars of politicians accused of treason and shops that remained open despite the strikes. From July to September 1970, there were 19 days of general strikes, 32 roadblocks, 12 bombings, 14 railway station occupations, two post office occupations, and occupations of the airport and the local TV station. 6,000 policemen from across Italy were deployed to suppress the riots, which saw an uptick in violence after revolt leader Francesco Franco was arrested. He was released in December 1970, but the wounding of three policemen in shooting incidents led to Prime Minister Emilio Colombo sending in 4,500 Italian Army troops to crush the riots, the first time that the army had been deployed to crush civil disorder since World War II. In February 1971, a short-lived "Central Sbarre Republic" was declared, but armored cars suppressed the revolt on 23 February 1971. The government's increased efforts to help the people of Reggio Calabria helped calm them, quelling the uprising.
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