A video of a 15-year-old standing up to far right activists in Rome has gone viral.

The boy was filmed speaking out in defence of minorities on Tuesday, when hundreds of far right activists and residents took to the streets of the Rome suburb of Torre Maura to demonstrate against the temporary re-housing of 70 Roma people at a reception centre in the area.

As one of the leaders of the neo fascist CasaPound party was telling journalists local people did not want the Roma around, the young lad intervened and said he did not agree.

He accused the leader of exploiting the people’s anger for votes. European funds obtained to be invested in the neighbourhood should be spent on everyone including the Romas and Africans, the boy said.

The boy’s video quickly went viral and he was described on the Italian media as the new hero of the left.