Polytechnic commemorated by thousands

in Athens

Thousands marched on the streets of Athens on Friday to commemorate the anniversary of the Polytechnic uprising and the victims of the deadly 1973 crackdown by the police and the army of a student uprising against the military dictatorship that ruled Greece between April 1967 and July 1974. Ahead of the protesters, leading the march, was a group of university students who carried the bloodstained Greek flag which was used by the students on that night. All surrounding streets from the US Embassy were heavily barricaded and special measures were in place to protect the Israeli Embassy as well as other possible “targets” due to the Israeli war in Gaza. Greek police deployed more than 5,000 officers around Athens. Helicopters and drones were hovering in the air transmitting images to the police operation centre. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic student uprising, by laying a wreath at a memorial dedicated to the victims of the regime’s brutal suppression of the revolt. In a social media post, Sakellaropoulou stated, “Today, as democracy stands firm and robust, our responsibility is to protect it with the same passion and unwavering determination exhibited by those resilient young people fifty years ago.”

Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia