Wednesday 10 December 2008

Melbourne: Rally for Alexandros Grigoropoulos Dec 13

More on Greece: Greece's main unions have called for a general strike. Teachers at universities in Greece have also gone on a 3 day strike in response to the murder of student Alexandros Grigoropoulos on Sunday night (Melbourne time).

A rally (see below) has been called in Melbourne in response to a global call-out for solidarity with Greece and Alexandros' family. Students, teachers, and unionists unite in solidarity!


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Media Release
Solidarity with Greece: Rally for Alexandros Grigoropoulos

KEYWORDS: , Greece, protest, Police violence, students, youth, current affairs

On Saturday 6th of December at around 10pm, two Greek policemen were in patrol in a central street by Exarchia square, in the center of Athens. They had a verbal argument with some young people who were there. During the argument, one of the cops pulled his gun and shot a 16-year-old minor twice. The victim was moved to Evangelismos Hospital to be pronounced dead. According to eye-witnesses, the cop had been swearing against the young boy, and showing his genitals, before shooting him.

In a spontaneous response, thousands of people gathered in the centers of most Greek cities over the past three days in riots. In Athens, people gathered outside Evangelismos Hospital, in order to prevent the cops from entering the building. A little later the riot police attacked in a street in Exarchia resulting in one person being arrested. The evening in Athens evolved with a spontaneous assembly in the Polytechnic University, many rioted in the center of Athens, including attacks against police departments and banks, until the early hours of the next morning. Meanwhile, a spontaneous demonstration took place, but it was confronted by the riot police with tear gas. Rallies, demonstrations, direct actions and riots took place all around the country.

Solidarity actions have already been held around Greece, in London, Edinburgh, Berlin, and Vienna.

There is a planned rally/vigil for Alexandros Grigoropoulos in Melbourne – the city with the biggest Greek population outside of Greece:

Saturday, 13th December, 2008
1:00PM outside the Greek Consulate
37-29 Albert Road, South Melbourne (take St Kilda Rd trams)

For more information: contact David Vakalis on 0404 722 687
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More resources on events in Greece
:
http://www.antiimperialista.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5895&Itemid=55
http://www.theage.com.au/world/anarchys-child-20081209-6uvb.html?page=-1
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=16684
http://athens.indymedia.org/?lang=en
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7772645.stm#map
http://www.theage.com.au/world/worst-in-decades-fourth-day-of-greek-violence-20081210-6v4q.html?page=-1
http://www.theage.com.au/world/unrest-in-greece-rages-for-fourth-day-20081209-6uxj.html?page=-1

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