Saturday (12/20): Reports from Greece

By dim
20 Dec, 2008

Today it's two weeks since the murder of Alexis and the beginning of the revolt. It is also day of international solidarity and global day against the police and state terrorism. Here are the major protests and events of the day in Greece.

In Athens there was a big number of protests, gathering and demonstrations taking place in neighborhoods: Gizi, Halandri, Nea Smirni, Petralona, Peristeri, Virona, Haidari. Mprahami.
Photos from Gizi: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=951604#951731
Photos from Petralona: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=951679
Protests also happened at the Sintagma square: In the afternoon there was a freeze flash mob, where 150 people “froze” for about 10minutes and left thousand of passersby starring! The event stopped when the riot cops started pushing people around to make them stop (or should I stay start)! Afterwards, 100 or so people moved to the big christmas tree in the square and started “decorating” in with garbage, the riot squads moved in again and deployed around the tree to protect it (as they have been doing for the past days, since the new tree was put there) and sprayed tear gas to the protesters. That didn't stop the people, which started throwing bags full of garbage at the tree and the cops. The cops started shoving people away and detained some protesters. After some time and while the riot cops didn't move away from the tree, the people there started... dancing around the tree, mocking the cops which were standing there in full riot gear, surrounded by garbage, protecting the fake tree!
Photos: http://troktiko.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-post_4464.html
http://troktiko.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-post_6204.html
Video: http://troktiko.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-post_7509.html (ignore the comments)
another video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8K0geihkQ8
There was also an anti-racist demonstration against the European Union's laws on immigration and deportation of immigrants.
In the afternoon a group of anarchists attacked with petrol bombs the offices of a banking system company. Along with the offices, two cars were burned.
At 9pm, there was a gathering at the exact place that Alexis was shot, 2 weeks ago. Thousands of people attended. A group of some hundreds of protesters decided to demonstrate and moved towards the occupied Polytechnic University. The presence of the riot cops was provocative and soon some squads were attacked and extended fights broke around the University and the Exarchia square. The protesters made barricades and set them on fire, burned a car and threw molotov coctails and rocks to the cops. The cops fired chemicals and tear gas, threw rocks back and attacked the protesters, making arrests. The fights lasted until well after midnight.
Three radio stations were occupied during the day and communiques were read.

In Thessaloniki, a big cultural space was occupied in the center of the city. When the city's mayor was spotted nearby at a municipal Christmas celebration party, he was attacked by protesters who threw a box of pastries and plastic bottles of water against him while shouting slogans. A radio station in the city was occupied. There was also a gathering called by anarchists.
Photos: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=951440
Video: http://antiblogthess.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-post_20.html

In the rest of the country, gatherings, demonstrations or acts of solidarity took place in Agrinio, Larisa, Naxos and Edessa.
In Ioannina the municipal radio station was occupied for 30 minutes and afterwards there was a gathering in the city center. A different christmas tree was put up by the protesters, decorated with photos of the protests.
Photos: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=951866

In the small hours of Saturday, police cars were attacked and burned in Athens and Kavala.

A new video was released today, clearly showing cops dressed up like protesters and wearing motorcycle helmets, holding sticks and rocks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvyvUrKRDRQ

~ San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center ~

From Athens to Avenue A

Wild Night in NYC: Solidarity with Greece and Student Occupiers

Contributed by: Anonymous
19 Dec, 2008

From Athens to Avenue A: A group of 40-50 individuals assembled shortly after 9pm in Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan's Lower East Side last night. Carrying banners they took to the streets marching north on Avenue A., the site of the well known tompkins square park riots of 1989. The group began chanting anti police slogans, as well as anti-capitalist chants. Fliers were handed out talking about the Greek revolt as well as problems here like police brutality, the economic crisis and gentrification.

As the crowd made its way west construction materials and newspaper boxes were dragged into the streets making blockades. At this point Anarchist grafitti was painted on the walls and a yuppie condo was defaced. Allegedly a couple of luxury cars had their windows broken. Marchers chanted "From New York to Greece, Fuck the Police"

As the march took over the 4 lanes of 3rd Ave, police moved in attacking the march. The crowd scattered and 1 person was arrested.
The others fled into the night regrouping at the New School occupation shortly after....

From Athens to Avenue A:

A group of 40-50 individuals assembled shortly after 9pm in Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan's Lower East Side last night. Carrying banners they took to the streets marching north on Avenue A., the site of the well known tompkins square park riots of 1989. The group began chanting anti police slogans, as well as anti-capitalist chants. Fliers were handed out talking about the Greek revolt as well as problems here like police brutality, the economic crisis and gentrification.

As the crowd made its way west construction materials and newspaper boxes were dragged into the streets making blockades. At this point Anarchist grafitti was painted on the walls and a yuppie condo was defaced. Allegedly a couple of luxury cars had their windows broken. Marchers chanted "From New York to Greece, Fuck the Police"

As the march took over the 4 lanes of 3rd Ave, police moved in attacking the march. The crowd scattered and 1 person was arrested. The others fled into the night regrouping at the New School occupation shortly after....

"New School for Social Revolution"

The New School building at 65 5th ave had been occupied by students on Wednesday night. On thursday morning they expanded their occupation after repelling an attack by the NYPD. One member of APOC NYC was arrested in these scuffles, but was released later that night.

At night hundreds of supporters lined the streets in front of the building, chanting in support. The crowed swelled and spilling out onto 5th avenue. As the NYPD brought in metal protest pens in an attempt to control the growing crowds, a shoving match broke out and people poured onto 5th avenue blocking the street completely. Trash and newspaper boxes were thrown into the street with the crowd chanting "From New York to Greece, Fuck the Police!"

The crowd then surged around the corner to an emergency exit which was held open as dozens of supporters and students ran inside to join the occupation.

An hour later Bob Kerrey, the much hated president of the New School, was booed as he left the building after trying to negotiate demands, he was chased down fifth avenue surrounded by security as people chanted "Kerrey Scum Your Time Has Come" and tomatoes were thrown at him. He was followed as he ran to his posh townhouse around the corner at 21 West 11th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue where police were forced to come to his aid. There was a feeling of victory as crowds continued into the night.

Unfortunately late in the night the more liberal, and bureaucratic elements among the occupiers prevailed to end the occupation after winning a few paltry demands (including compensation for school security guards guarding the occupation!). Kerrey is still president even though for a few moments he had to run for his life from enraged students.

More happened in NYC last night than has gone on for a while in this city. The march from Tompkins Square Park was called explicitly in solidarity with greece and the occupations and rioting in Greece was cited as a motivation for many of the more 'radical' students to occupy the New School. It feels like things are changing here in NYC, our collective fear is being shed like dead skin as we realize that our lives depend on using every chance we get to fight for our liberation. More is sure to come in the months that follow.

As the New School occupiers stated: "Be assured, this is only the beginning, "

To the coming insurrection, from Athens to New York City!

~ Infoshop News ~

'Greek Syndrome' is catching as youth take to streets

Europe exists, it appears. If Greek students sneeze, or catch a whiff of tear-gas, young people take to the streets in France and now Sweden. Yesterday, masked youths threw two firebombs at the French Institute in Athens. Windows were smashed but the building was not seriously damaged. Then youths spray-painted two slogans on the building. One said, "Spark in Athens. Fire in Paris. Insurrection is coming". The other read, "France, Greece, uprising everywhere".

It was a calculated and violent attempt to link disparate youth protest movements. Links between protests in Greece and France – and, to a lesser degree, unrest in Sweden – may seem tenuous, even non-existent. But social and political ailments and their symptoms transmit as rapidly as influenza in the television, internet and text-message age.

With Europe, and the world, pitching headlong into a deep recession, the "Greek Syndrome", as one French official calls it, was already being monitored with great care across the European Union. The attempt to politicise and link the disputes across EU frontiers may prove to be a random act of self-dramatisation by an isolated group on the Greek far left. But it does draw attention to the similarities – and many differences – between the simultaneous outbreaks of unrest in three EU countries.

Thousands of young Greeks have been rioting on and off for almost two weeks. They are protesting against the chaotic, and often corrupt, social and political system of a country still torn between European "modernity" and a muddled Balkan past. They can be said, in that sense, to be truly revolting.

~ more... ~

Modesto: Solidarity Statement for Dec 20th Solidarity Demonstration

Contributed by: Anonymous
20 Dec, 2008

The actions of the Greek youth and working class inspire us. Since the police shooting of a young anarchist, people have fought the police in the streets for over two weeks now. They have occupied their schools and workplaces setting up general assemblies, made transportation and various goods free in some areas, and workers have even taken over their union halls in opposition to bureaucratic Leftist control over their struggles. The revolt is also spreading. People across Europe are taking to the streets in opposition to a failing capitalist system based on debt, exploitation, racism, foreclosure, and environmental degradation. In New York, students have occupied their local university in solidarity with the Greek revolt. Actions and attacks on Greek embassies have also been carried out across the world, as well as solidarity demonstrations, flyering, and banner drops.

This text was prepared in flyer form for a solidarity demonstration with our Greek comrades in Modesto California.

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From Greece to Modesto

Fight Poverty and Repression for Working Class Power

Today we stand in solidarity with the ongoing revolutionary movement in Greece.

The actions of the Greek youth and working class inspire us. Since the police shooting of a young anarchist, people have fought the police in the streets for over two weeks now. They have occupied their schools and workplaces setting up general assemblies, made transportation and various goods free in some areas, and workers have even taken over their union halls in opposition to bureaucratic Leftist control over their struggles. The revolt is also spreading. People across Europe are taking to the streets in opposition to a failing capitalist system based on debt, exploitation, racism, foreclosure, and environmental degradation. In New York, students have occupied their local university in solidarity with the Greek revolt. Actions and attacks on Greek embassies have also been carried out across the world, as well as solidarity demonstrations, flyering, and banner drops.

In the Central Valley, we are facing the brunt of lay offs, recession, home evictions by banks and capitalists, ICE raids and attacks on immigrants, and unemployment. We are also facing an ongoing onslaught of police brutality by local police departments as cops kill, taze, and beat us without mercy.

Our comrades in Greece have made the choice between unending exploitation and revolution. It is time we do the same!

Solidarity with the Greek Insurrection!

All Power to the Working Class!

Solidarity among all rebels!

Produced by Modesto Anarcho Crew
www.myspace.com/modanarcho - anarcho209@yahoo.com
More info: news.infoshop.org

~ Infoshop News ~

Could the Greek revolt ignite all of Europe?

The Greeks are not calming down. On the contrary - the leftist radicals unfurled a banner across the Acropolis calling for European-wide action on Wednesday. Is a new '68 on its way?

The message was written in four languages: Greek, English, Italian and German. "Resistance" on one banner, and "18/12, demonstration in all Europe" on another. Judged "inexcusable" by the government, it took the Greek police two hours to remove the banners. But will the call for action succeed? Supporters from around Europe tell us what they think.

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