On 6 January 1913, the Savoy Agricultural Society organised a demonstration by impoverished inhabitants of the town to protest against the local tax system and the inadequate sanitation situation. The original demonstration in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, the main square in the village passed without incident. However when a group of participants, including several women went to the offices of the society to get an Italian tricolour, the Carabinieri took offense.