Claim: In 1871/72 there were mass riots and more than 11,000 Nizzardi Italians who refused to be French hence French government closed the Italian language newspapers which were written by the most famous writers in Italian language of Nice.
Evidence: In 1871/72 there were mass riots in the city (labeled Vespri Nizzardi by Garibaldi) or Nizzard Vespers), promoted by the "Garibaldini" in favor of unification with the Kingdom of Italy. More than 11,000 Nizzardi Italians who refused to be French subsequently moved to Italy (chiefly to Torino and Genova, respectively) after 1861. The French government closed the Italian language newspapers Diritto di Nizza and Voce di Nizza in 1861, and Il Pensiero di Nizza in 1895. In these newspapers wrote the most famous writers in Italian language of Nice: Giuseppe Bres, Henri Sappia, Giuseppe André.