ROME — Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Rome, Milan and other Italian cities Friday as part of nationwide demonstrations against the cost of living and high military spending.

The demonstrations were largely peaceful but an NBC News crew saw police use a water cannon on protesters and groups of police charging to disperse protesters in Rome on Friday night.

After several weeks of violent protests in Italy and throughout Europe , more widespread disruption is expected after the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) and other trade unions called on workers in both the public and private sectors to strike and protest.

The demonstrations in Italy appear to have been partly inspired by those in France , where some of the worst rioting in decades erupted in cities across the country after student protests about the state of education in the country evolved into wider actions about the cost of living and social security.

Demonstrators gather at the Piazza della Repubblica in Rome on Friday.…