First day of nationwide general strike
24.00 GMT+2 Downtown Athens has become a battlefield. Yet, the people remain on the streets despite the relentless use of tear gas and the fierce attacks by cops, which culminated during the night. The protesters are in urgent need of aid; whoever withdraws from streets does this because of great fatigue, rather than fear. All day there were blunt orders by the regime to evacuate Syntagma area, via a superpower of repressive forces and a strong presence of plainclothes. Also cops were conscripted from across the province. It should be reminded that tomorrow at 2 pm the mid-term memorandum will be put on vote, so the strikers are asked to flood Syntagma from early in the morning in order to encircle the parliament. Many strikers in solidarity are expected with the first train from Thessaloniki.
23.50 GMT+2 A few minutes ago, police squads stormed from Stadiou Street and suffocated people with tones of tear gas. At the lower side of Syntagma Square barricades are erected. Protesters resist despite their great fatigue. The entire area vibrates by the slogans COPS, PIGS, MURDERERS and THE JUNTA DID NOT END IN 1973.
23.39 GMT+2 After a 3hour detention, detainees were transferred to police HQ in Athens for another six hours. All 20 detentions were swiftly turned into arrests. All people in solidarity are calling for a gathering tomorrow, June 29th, at 10 am outside the courthouse in Evelpidon Street. Among others, a 56-year-old woman has been arrested earlier at Syntagma Square.
23.30 GMT+2 Up to this time, there are constant harsh clashes. Continually, medics run to help numerous injured protesters, transferring them from outside Hotel Grande Bretagne.
23.17 GMT+2 Dissent is generalized; there are people hurdling rocks to the police across the centre of Athens. In Stadiou Street police are now attacking demonstrators, and the clashes continue in Syntagma as before. Filellinon and surrounding streets are lined with police squads. There are at least 5-6 police units outside the Russian Church near Syntagma. At the Zappeion hundreds of DELTA motorcycle police forces. At the junction of Ardittou and Vouliagmenis streets, near First Cemetery of Athens, there are dozens of motorcyclist cops.
23.15 GMT+2 A huge crowd at Syntagma tonight, multiple times larger than the crowd at the general strike demo in the morning. Clashes between police squads and demonstrators forced the temporary halting of the concert. There are many stun grenades and tear gas thrown against demonstrators’ heads.
22.55 GMT+2 In Athens large-scale clashes still go on. People are committed to struggle despite the extremely brutal suppression.
22.35 GMT+2 Cops’ attack against people who are situated in Amalias Street in front of the parliament; at least one detention. The live concert was interrupted. People ostracize stones against police squads.
22.20 GMT+2 Syntagma: The live concert continues. For quite some time, people have lit bonfires at different points in order to extinguish the chemicals.
21.24 GMT+2 The clashes between people gathered at the square and police have started, once again. Live stream from Syntagma also here.
21.10 GMT+2 Police tried to evacuate Syntagma square, to no avail. The people are defending the square.
21.00 GMT+2 Street battles outside Hotel Grande Bretagne. Extensive use of tear gas; shock grenades.
20.35 GMT+2 Motorcycle rally just arrived from Thessaloniki at Syntagma.
19.50 GMT+2 Syntagma: Police squads’ attack in front of the parliament on the pretext of plastic water bottles throwing. Gathered people regrouped and counterattacked: Almost with bare hands they moved towards cops, pushed them back and put aside the four rows of railings; so they retook the point in front of the Unknown Soldier Monument. Continually people swarm in Syntagma square.
19.02 GMT+2 Athens: A photojournalist and a lawyer faced threats and insults by uniformed police officers when they ran to help two more detainees at the junction of Panepistimiou and Omirou streets. According to the official police bulletin, 5 arrests and 17 detentions were made. At the moment, lots of people are gathering at Syntagma Square. Self-organized demonstrators are cleaning the square of chemicals with buckets of water. There are also motorcycle rallies and occupations in town halls in many Greek cities. For tomorrow, there is a call by various collectives and neighbourhood assemblies all around Athens for the encirclement of the parliament. A ship has already departed from Heraklion, Crete, to Piraeus with organized demonstrators coming to join the general strike tomorrow morning in Syntagma.
19.00 GMT+2 Heraklion, Crete Island: 2-3,000 protesters participated in the rally. There were two pre-gatherings: at the Labour Centre and Eleftherias Square. By 11.15 the demo began from Eleftherias Square. Also, nearly 800 people participated along union fat-cats of the Labour Centre. Most blocks were dynamic; flyers [trikakia] were thrown while slogans were written on walls. In addition, eggs and red paint were thrown against PASOK ruling party’s offices. The demo was under close observation by cops situated in nearby alleys. Several protesters from Heraklion had already traveled to Athens; a gathering was called out at 17.00 in Eleftherias Square, in order for people to go to the port to participate in tomorrow’s mobilizations in Athens —the afternoon’s assembly meant to decide whether the protesters will travel free of charge or not.
17.50 GMT+2 People are heading again from the square towards Amalias Street.
17.45 GMT+2 According to eyewitnesses, one police squad’s officer threw away his helmet and shield, giving up his democratic duty of massive crowd suppression. Other police squad’s cops have beaten him fiercely, forcing him not to leave. Cops fired tear gas while a Red Cross [Erithros Stavros] ambulance transferred the injured protesters and persons suffering from respiratory problems to hospital.
17.39 GMT+2 A generalized pogrom across the area of Syntagma Square. Police squads chase after demonstrators, pushing them back towards Propylaea. Unconfirmed reports of 3 arrests, 18 detentions.
17.25 GMT+2: A few people remain in Syntagma Square holding banners. A fire truck arrived to extinguish a fire coming from the van of a mobile phone company. Reports suggest the van caught fire as the result of a shock grenade. Clashes continue; demonstrators fight back against the cops’ chemical warfare by building barricades. There is an unconfirmed number of detainees; correspondences refer to 4 arrested and 21 detained, while the police report 4 cops injured.
17.00 GMT+2 Demonstrators move away, so the tension shifts to the lower side of the square. Othonos Street has re-opened and is gradually filled with people. The area is under continuous attack from tear gas and shock grenades.
16.50 GMT+2 Syntagma: A lot of tear gas inside the metro station, from Amalias Street. The majority of anarchists are not present at the time, but comrades remain near Syntagma. Police raid en mass the upper side of the square; melees between demonstrators and cops. From Othonos Street a minor militant group with football fans’ distinctive features throws stones against the numerous repression forces. Several organizers of the Syntagma Assembly, possibly along with far-right ‘300 Greeks’, are offering Maalox in order to protect people from chemicals.
16.40 GMT+2 Ongoing clashes; tear gas thrown now in front of the Unknown Soldier Monument. The majority of the people have split away from the place. It is estimated that approximately 2,000 remain gathered. Nevertheless, demonstrators do not leave the square.
16.05 GMT+2 According to reports, three people have been detained at Syntagma – one of the detainees is a trade union member.
15.57 GMT+2 Protesters are taking back the area around Filellinon Street, at the lower side of Syntagma square.
15.45 Athens: Police squads evacuated Amalias Street by a savage chemical warfare operation; asphyxiant gases were poured inside the metro station and thrown even against the Medical Centres’ tend in Syntagma square.
15.36 GMT+2 Ioannina: Strikers occupied the premises of the municipal radio station (98.7fm). A popular assembly that was held in the central square immediately after the demonstration, decided to undertake this occupation in order to propagate this evening’s assembly, at 8 pm, concerning the organization of tomorrow’s activities and the march itself which will begin at 10.30 am from the Labour Centre of Ioannina.
15.25 GMT+2 Stadiou, Filellinon, Othonos streets, parametrically: People surrounded and trapped in Syntagma Square resist by throwing stones, using also fire extinguishers against police squads. Meanwhile, other protesters surround the cops that attack the square. Demonstrators that head from Syntagma to Propylaea can hear shock granades every thirty 30 seconds.
15.02 GMT+2 Syntagma: The police are throwing broken marble against protesters.
14.55 GMT+2 Syntagma: The main demonstration block has been in the square for approximately an hour. A total of 32 police squads, guarding the parliament, are firing tear-gas extensively and attempt to break up the blocks. For the past 40 minutes there are constant clashes on the lower part of Syntagma Square, by Karageorgi Servias Street. There are also clashes on Stadiou Street. According to people at the square, police are firing tear gas every few seconds.
14.52 GMT+2 Cops raided Syntagma Square.
14.40 GMT+2 Maroussi, Athens northern suburb: At least 200 DIAS police force motorcycles crossed Kifissias Avenue at high speed, defiantly pressing horns.
14.32 GMT+2 Syntagma: A Greek flag is burning at the moment. Clashes take place in Fillelinon and Voukourestiou streets and in front of the Hotel Grande Bretagne.
About 14.30 GMT+2 Thessaloniki: Minister of Health Loverdos was blocked inside ‘Papafeio’ Institution by a big number of demonstrators. Reports mention that the minister managed to escape.
14.20 GMT+2 Protesters smash McDonald’s; bonfires are lit and barricades are erected; shock grenades, tones of chemicals. A lot of people take part in the clashes. Flares, stone throwing up to Stadiou Street. Many demonstrator blocks remain in front of the parliament.
14.10 GMT+2 Stone throwing against the cops that fire tear gas and shock grenades; first clashes at the lower side of Syntagma Square. People split and moved towards Stadiou and Panepistimiou streets, but other demonstrators remain at Syntagma.
14.05 GMT+2 Syntagma, Othonos and Amalias streets: The fascist scums were previously blocked inside 10, Othonos Arcade by at least 1,000 protesters. Police squads tear gazed the area up to Filellinon Street. People retreated to Syntagma Square, but gradually re-gather in front of the parliament.
14.02 GMT+2 Prisoners’ mutiny in the A wing of Koridallos men’s prisons; they refuse to enter the prison cells.
13.40 GMT+2 Syntagma: About fifteen neo-Nazis chanted fascist slogans near the Citizens Service Centre at the corner of Othonos and Amalias streets. Anarchists have rushed to repel them.
13.14 GMT+2 Patras: The march of 2-3,000 people completed without problems. Before its beginning, comrades expropriated the banner of the Labour Centre which attempted to lead the demonstration. Then, all blocks passed by the Labour Centre’s block which eventually withdrew completely. About 300 anarchists of ‘Ergaleioforos’ and ‘Perasma’ groups participated in one common block. Leftish parties have completed the rally in Georgiou Square where the ‘indignados’ normally gather, while several rank’n’file unions along with the anarchists’ block terminated in Olgas square. There is an ongoing occupation of the Labour Centre of Patras by anarchists/anti-authoritarians.
13.03 GMT+2 Athens: The block of the sold-out General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) is reaching Syntagma Square, with approximately 5,000 demonstrators.
12.34 GMT+2 In Xanthi, northern Greece, there were three different bodies of demonstrators. In the morning members of PAME occupied the Tax Office building. In general, the participation both from the Resistance Initiative of and the Labour Centre was lower in comparison to previous strikes. As result of their attempt to seclude the trade unionists, the Resistance Initiative’s block marched without politically independent workers, only with several members of the anarchist block on its side.
12.20 GMT+2 Athens: Approximately 15,000 protesters of various base unions along with the anarchist block begin to march from the National Archaeological Museum (Patission Street) towards Syntagma. The body of demonstrators head to Kolokotroni Street. People are gathering at Syntagma while protesters from other Greek cities also arrive there.
12.17 GMT+2 Thessaloniki: Demonstrators of rank’n’files unions joined the strikers’ pre-gathering at the junction of Egnatia and Aghia Sophias streets. The march of approximately 10,000 protesters is heading from the Labour Centre of Thessaloniki to Aghios Demetrius Street.
12.14 GMT+2 Mytilini, Lesbos Island: The rally of nearly 600 demonstrators is completed. An open popular assembly will follow.
12.05 GMT+2 According to the announcement of the General Federation of Personnel of Electricity Sector (GENOP/DEI: PPC), today between 11.00 and 15.30 blackouts of almost one and a half hour will be rotating at various areas in Attica.
11.00 GMT+2 At the port of Pireus, since early in the morning, dockworkers as well as members of PAME (of the so-called ‘Communist’ Party of Greece) seized the ships’ launchers, blocking the sailing from the central port of the country. In Athens approximately 25,000 people have gathered in front of the parliament, mainly demonstrators of PAME.
01.01 GMT+2 Prisons across Greece: Excerpt of a prisoners’ text about the mid-term memorandum — ‘[…] Prisons are a mechanism which is based on poverty and reproduces inequalities and injustice. Prisons are an unjust and inhumane mechanism which demoralizes and enrages people. It is a class and antisocial mechanism which should be abolished. We know that there is no potential for basic living problems’ substantial solution inside prisons because, as we said before, life behind prison walls becomes even more difficult due to the crisis. Hence, the main slogan of inmates in Greek prisons today is “Immediate release of all prisoners.” Today our own struggle cannot but be common. Common among all prisoners, common among all the oppressed of all nationalities who are in the streets and squares of Greek cities. Let’s start here and now a real confrontational struggle that will prevent the mid-term memorandum’s voting. And the only way to do so is to factually threaten the political and economic system’s function. […]’ This text is co-signed by a total of 468 women and men inmates of the prisons: Koridallos (also F male wing), Ioannina, Avlona, Nafplion and Corfu. At least 789 women and men prisoners decided to remain outside the prison cells during the midday closing in: Koridallos (also A, D, F male wings), Diavata, Amfissa, D1 male wing of Grevena. A total of 1,508 inmates will protest via mess-abstention in: Grevena, B male wing of Larissa, Ioannina, Avlona, Malandrino, Diavata and Cassandra in Thessaloniki. On the day of the mid-term memorandum’s voting, the prisoners protest against the financial and political impasse in which the Greek society is situated, against the country’s occupation by the big Capital, against the parliamentary junta. This mobilization is also held in solidarity with those who fight in cities’ streets and squares across Greece.
About 00.00 GMT+2 Arta, western Greece: Dozens of workers and solidaritarians blocked the entry of the poultry cooperative’s factory of the city. They had decided to blockade the factory throughout the entire 48hour general strike, but the blockade ended at about 4.30 am. Reports mention that lately the employers practice factual terrorism against the workers, intimating them not to participate in strikes. The unpaid workers of the cooperative invite all people to participate in the strike.
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