Global Noise Demo: New Year’s Eve 2013/2014

December 31st 2012 Noise Demo outside the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan.
December 31st 2012 Noise Demo outside the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan.

                                   Inside and Outside Prisons, Jails, & Detention Centers around the World

This event is inspired by the North American call out for a day of action against prisons in the New Year of 2010/2011, which happened again in 2011/2012 and again last year, & remains relevant unchanged:

Noise demos outside of prisons in some countries are a continuing tradition. A way of expressing solidarity for people imprisoned during the New Year, remembering those held captive by the state. A noise demo breaks the isolation and alienation of the cells our enemies create, but it does not have to stop at that.

Continue reading Global Noise Demo: New Year’s Eve 2013/2014

International call for solidarity from Sweden #freejoel

freejoel

We, anti-fascists of Stockholm, call upon the international left-wing movement to show solidarity and support to one of our imprisoned comrades. He is in jail for defending a local community-organized anti-racist demonstration in the Kärrtorp area of Stockholm against a brutal nazi-attack on the 15th of December. Locals of all sorts, including parents with their children, elderly and youth, gathered in their neighbourhood to show strength against a nazi organisation that had been attacking local anti-racists and spreading nazi propaganda in schools in the area. They gathered in a peaceful protest when they were attacked by the most militant nazi group in Sweden with knives, sticks and glass bottles. Anti-fascists at the scene defended the local families from the attack and were injured themselves. One of the anti-fascists got arrested by the police a few days later altough the anti-fascists did nothing but defend themselves.

A week later, on the 22nd of December, the largest manifestation in modern history in Sweden against racism and nazism took place in the same area. Around 20.000 people gathered with a clear message: Nazis are not welcome in our society!

Altough the left-wing people of Stockholm showed strength we need your solidarity, your solidarity actions and your letters to our imprisoned comrade!

http://on.fb.me/1eJSZNP

Διεθνές κάλεσμα αλληλεγγύης από την Σουηδία

freej

Εμείς, οι αντιφασίστες/ριες της Στοκχόλμης, καλούμε διεθνώς όλα τα αριστερά κινήματα να δείξουν αλληλεγγύη και στήριξη στον φυλακισμένο μας σύντροφο. Βρίσκεται στην φυλακή επειδή υπερασπίστηκε μια τοπική αντιρατσιστική συγκέντρωση στο Kärrtorp στην περιοχή της Στοκχόλμης από μια βίαιη ναζιστική επίθεση στις 15 Δεκεμβρίου. Ντόπιοι/ες, συμπεριλαμβανομένου γονείς με τα παιδιά τους, ηλικιωμένους και νέους, είχαν συγκεντρωθεί στην γειτονιά για να δείξουν την αντιθεσή τους σε μια ναζιστική οργάνωση η οποία είχε νωρίτερα επιτεθεί σε ντόπιους/ες αντιρατσιστές/ριες και προωθούσε ναζιστική προπαγάνδα στα σχολεία της περιοχής. Η ειρηνική διαδήλωση δέχθηκε επίθεση από την πιο βίαιη ναζιστική ομάδα της Σουηδίας με μαχαίρια, βεγγαλικά και γυάλινα μπουκάλια. Η αντιφασιστική περιφρούρηση υπερασπίστηκε οικογένειες από την επίθεση ενώ τραυματίστηκαν και οι ίδιοι οι αντιφασίστες. Ένας από τους αντιφασίστες συνελήφθη μερικές μέρες μετά την επίθεση παρά το γεγονός ότι οι αντιφασίστες δεν έκαναν τίποτε άλλο από το να υπερασπιστούν τους εαυτούς τους και την συγκέντρωση.

Continue reading Διεθνές κάλεσμα αλληλεγγύης από την Σουηδία

Unexpected solidarity gathering and new call for solidarity

"Hands off anarchists!"
“Hands off anarchists!”

Foivos Charisis, Argyris Dalios, Giannis Michailidis, Dimitris Politis and Giorgos Karagiannidis are on hunger and thirst strike since yesterday Friday December 13th to defend their community and to demand their return to the first wing. The five comrades and Giannis Naxakis, Babis Tsilianidis are in discipline rooms in different wings.

Around 11pm Saturday night, approximately 150 comrades showed up unexpectedly at the conjuction of Grigoriou Lampraki and Solomou street, the street which is between men’s and women’s prison of Korydallos. A police station and the prison-guard’s office are on Solomou street. We marched on Solomou street, holding a banner that read “Solidarity with the hunger and thirst strikers. No comrade is alone” and chanting slogans, surprising the cops guarding the police station and the prison.

After withdrawing towards Grigoriou Lampraki, we marched to the park next to the prison where we stayed for around 15′ shouting slogans in solidarity. Riot police squads showed up a while later, but didn’t make a move against the gathered people.

This move was spontaneous, sending a message to prison staff, cops and every faithful servant of the authoritarian mechanism that our comrades are not alone even when they are locked up in the dungeons of democracy. We also wanted to meet outside the walls to send strength to our comrades fighting vigorously to defend their dignity and community.

SOLIDARITY CALL TOMORROW SUNDAY DECEMBER 15 AT 15:00
AT THE ELEFTHERIA PARK ON GRIGORIOU LAMPRAKI STREET AT KORYDALLOS PRISON

Five anarchists in Korydallos’ prison are starting hunger and thirst strike

Yesterday, Thursday December 12, while we were locked up in our cells, prison-guard Giannis Milonas addressed us in an offensive manner. Today while we asked him to apologize for his behaviour, he continued to be provocative and as a result a small taste of the violence he daily exercises with his keys was returned to him.

Prison’s administration took the decision to disband our community by testing our limits and tolerance. At this very moment, five of us are in isolation for disciplanary reasons in the third wing while our comrades Giannis Naxakis and Babis Tsilianidis have been transferred to the fourth wing, as well as comrade Grigoris Sarafoudis to the fifth wing (but not in a discipline room).

We’re determined to defend our community at any cost because this community is a vital element for us within this rotten prison world. We will not trade our dignity with any coward servant of legal order.

Today, December 13 2013, we are starting hunger and thirst strike, demanding that both we and our comrades will return to the first wing. The chief-guards Vasilis Labrakis, Giannis Kontopoulos and Nikos Petropoulos, prison’s director Maria Stefi, the prosecutor Troupi and the social service’s supervisor Vaso Fragkathoula who consist the prison’s counsil are responsible for what may happen from now on.

NOT A SINGLE STEP BACK

P.S. Our thoughts are with the imprisoned fighters Spyros Stratoulis, Rami Syrianos, Ergion Mustafa and Michalis Ramadanoglou who are on hunger strike.

COMPAS BE STRONG, UNTIL THE VICTORY

Foivos Charisis
Argyris Dalios
Giannis Michailidis
Dimitris Politis
Giorgos Karagiannidis

Attack on Exarchia police station 13-12-2013

Exarchia police station in Athens was severely attacked today around 8pm with Molotov cocktails and stones. Riot, DIAS and DELTA (on motorbikes) police units performed an extensive sweep of the Exarchia area detaining c.a. 70-80 bystanders, including several immigrants and an underage refugee. The detainees were transferred to Athens police HQ. There has been issued a special warning to police authorities regarding the underage refugee, who is a victim of torture. The cops answered in a provocable manner that they will prevent him from standing near any windows [note: so he would not commit a suicide. However, a number of immigrants have “committed suicides” in police stations in Greece]. The police detained individuals who happened to be hanging out at the Navarinou park, close by the Exarchia police station.

exarhia-13-12

Video after the attack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNts9a-RaVk.

Violent eviction of the 71 Perrache avenue and still no solution for re-accomodation

On Monday, December 2, at 6am, on the 71 Perrache avenue, 73 people were evicted, including 44 children (16 under six years old, nine under three years old, two under six months old and one of 15 days old, according to the population census of the association CLASSES on the premises of the eviction). This accommodation, empty since 2009, was reclaimed by a group of people without housing since June 10, 2013. The building belongs to the SPL Lyon Confluence and is part of future development plans for the Confluence area. However, we should note that there are no actual plans for this building.

We have decided to demonstrate against the eviction.
People from several political spaces were present, associations such as CLASSES, Enfance sans toit (Childhood homeless) and individuals concerned with the situation.

13 CRS squads (riot police) and the GIPN (National police) participated in the eviction. When people in solidarity with the squat gathered, the police decided to disperse them by force. We experienced disproportionate violence, hits with batons and tear gas without any warnings to all people present, both those in support and the ones evicted.

Far from being “slightly uncomfortable” as described by Albert Doutre, Head of the Departmental Direction of the Rhône public security, two children were taken to the hospital after the eviction. One of them is an infant of 15 days who was already taken to the hospital on Friday with respiratory difficulties . This was reported with a letter to the region’s prefect, who obviously ignored it.

Far from being a “legitimate action” as described by Albert Doutre, throwing tear gas constitutes an endangering action against a baby.
We would like to remind the public that there are 24,000 empty dwellings in Lyon and that thousands of people are still living in precarious conditions or are on the street. It is unacceptable to put people out on the streets, especially during the winter break [T/N: in France evictions are not allowed during winter].

No relocation has been suggested to them, and we are greatly worried for the future of these families.

One should not be an anarchist to react against such injustice. It is always possible to prevent these situations by reclaiming available buildings, lowering rents and immediately relocating people who are left on the streets.

We call for a large protest rally in front of the Grand Lyon (20 Lac street) on December 12.

We demand the halt of lawsuits against the arrestees.

We call for a gathering at TGI Lyon on Tuesday December 3, at 2pm, room U, to demand the immediate release of the paperless person arrested during the eviction.

Lyon Housing Collective

Source: Rebellyon

Marches in memory of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, who was murdered in cold blood by a cop on December 6th, 2008

Athens [01:55] Riot police now in Exarchia square running from Metaxa street. Another riot police squad is entering the square from Themistocleous str #6dgr

Athens [01:49] Clashes now in Stournari str and Mpoumpoulinas. Video

Athens [01:02] Clashes in Exarhia are still going on, there are reports for a “bang” in the lower part of the square.

Kavala [00:50] Eighty people demonstrated today in Kavala from the only anti-authoritarian bloc of the city. Solidarity texts have been distributed to the hunger striker Spyros Stratoulis.

Karditsa [00:40] Two hundred people demonstrated in the city center calling out chants distributing texts and writing slogans with stencil on the walls.

Kozani [00:33] A march took place around 7pm with strong pulse at the city center in memory of Alexandros Grigoropoulos. A PA system was used during the march. The demonstrators also had banners and gave out pamphlets. The cops were tantalizingly close to the gathering, and during the march of the 60 people, 2 riot police squads were following them.

Athens [00:22] Police entered in the blue residential building in Exarhia and detained people that were trapped inside. They are taking them to the police headquarters (GADA) in Alexandras avenue. The lawyers are already there talking with police. More lawyers are coming.

Komotini [00:10] Banner from today’s demonstration in Komotini. It reads “Extreme is the state’s murders and repression. Civil insurrections are neither legal nor illegal – they are just” Photograph

Athens [00:04] Two police cars arrived and loaded two people from the square. Now they are leaving. There is a call for the people that are trapped inside the surrounding buildings to come out.

Athens [23:56] Right now a police squad is dragging a person in Arahovis street. Riot police units are leaving from the blocks of flats heading towards Mpenaki street and Strefi hill.

Athens [23:50] from phone call: Urgent call for lawyers. Riot police squads entered Themistokleous and Valtetsiou st. in order to arrest people there. They are preparing to enter the Blue block of flats. Delta units have put bottles (molotov) at the building’s entrance at the corner of Themistokleous and Valtetsiou st. and are photographing the items.

Athens [23:42] Riot police squad and Delta police on motorbikes are hidden on the corner of Exarhia Square and Valtetsiou. They are searching the flower beds with torches.

Athens [23:30] There are 136 detentions in total from the afternoon demonstrations. Eighty four of them happened in Exarhia. Seven of those became arrests of which three were in Exarhia.

Athens [23:27] As it was mentioned earlier, street lights in the Exarhia area are turned off. Cops are moving around in the alleys with flash lights, looking for people.

Athens [23:23] There are reports about 40 people surrounded by riot police as well as police on motorcycles (Delta) in Exarhia square.

Athens [23:17] Youngsters in Stournari street are shouting “These days are Alexi’s days”. The cops are throwing chemicals as well as flash grenades in Exarhia square. Approximately fifteen police on motorcycles (Delta) are located in Themistokleous. Riot police are in the square as well as Valtetsiou street.

Athens [23:16] Riot police has just been attacked in Eresou and Tositsa street.

Germany [–] Banner drop in memory of Alexandros Grigoropoulos. “Alexis was murdered by a cop!. Never Forgive – Never Forget!” Photograph

Agrinio [22:40] Earlier today a group of people attacked banks and Hellenic Postbank in the center of the city with molotov cocktails and stones. They clashed with the cops which drowned the center of the city with tear gas. The cops chased a group of approximately 50 people near the municipal park and Panaitolikos’ stadium. There are reports for detentions around the city. Photograph 1, Photograph 2, Photograph 3, Photograph 4.

Athens [22:15] According to information from the parents that are standing outside police headquarters (GADA) in Alexandras avenue, their arrested kids have been beaten up by the police.

Athens [22:12] Ippokratous street from the side of Alexandras avenue is blocked by police. They are searching everyone that passes by.

Athens [22:02] Riot police squads are descending Stournari st. from Exarhia square, while other cops remain to the square. Reports on detentions are still ongoing.

Athens [22:01] The detentions from the demonstration of school students earlier are 27 out of which 10 became arrests.

Athens [21:45] The arrested people from Messologiou street are being taken to the police headquarters (GADA) in Alexandras avenue. Around fifty to a hundred people so far including parents of the student detainees have gathered outside the building in solidarity with the detainees. Police vans are heading towards Exarhia from Alexandras.

Volos [21:43] Solidarity gathering for the approximately 25 detainees outside the Magnisias Police Headquarters.

Athens [21:30] Police on motorcycles (Delta) in Tositsa and Eresou street are going upwards. Eolou street is full of cops together with undercover cops. The riot police are using the flash lights, lighting peoples’ balconies, in order to scare them off.

Athens [21:26] Three detentions at the corner of Stournari st and Kanigos square by police on motorbikes. Police marching the detainees in gallop towards Patision St.

Athens [21:20] There are reports for about twenty potential arrests around the place where Grigoropoulos was murdered. A demonstrator has been detended by police on motorcycles (Delta) at the point between Mpenaki and Kallidromiou street twenty minutes ago. They where kicking him all the way to the police station.

Athens [21:16] Three youngsters (aged no more than 13 years old) got away from the cops who chased them in Skoufa St.

Athens [21:13] Riot police together with police on motorbikes are getting inside the stores and detent everyone that is trapped inside.

Athens [21:10] Riot police and police on motorbikes are going into the square, they are getting clashed by stones and they answer back with flash grenades. People heard that they plan to attack in Valtetsiou street.

Athens [21:05] Call for Lawyers. Dozens of people are trapped inside a block of flats in Messologiou street with riot police outside.

Athens [20:59] Riot police pigs are searching with flash lights outside the cafe in Tsamadou street and inside surrounding buildings.

Athens [20:56] Delta team’s cops entered a mini market at Mesologgiou street in order to detain demonstrators. There is a diy medical station at Mesologgiou and Tzavella junction. Cops pushed away a person who was taking footage of the detentions. Two MAT squads at Metaxa and Mesologgiou junction.

Athens [20:52] At least fifty people are going towards Mesollogiou street. Twenty police bikes are getting down from Mpenaki street right now. There are people that are trapped inside stores.

Athens [20:50] Flash grenades in Benaki str. Police on motorbikes at Exarcheia square and Sp. Trikoypi corner.

Athens [20:40] Cops have surrounded again the square from the side of Arahovis st, Kallidromiou st and the Strefi hill. Approximately fifteen to twenty undercover cops in the corner of Sp. Trikoupi and the square are talking with other police platoons. They got there from Stournari street tottaly masked.

Volos [20:32] 20-25 detentions took place before the march had started, mainly youngsters. Another 10 detentions during the march. The clashes keep taking place with demonstrators within the University.

Athens [20:29] Police hunting in Themistokleous and Sp.Trikoupi street.

Athens [20:25] Garbage bins has been set on fire in Mpenaki street. The square is surrounded. Riot police units in Themistokleous, Tsamadou and Spyrou Trikoupi street. Police on motorbikes in Eresou and Mpenaki street. Approximately 50 people. Caution in Valtetsiou, hidden policemen.

Thessaloniki [20.17] One detention took place away from the clashes by undercover cops.

Athens [20.12] Many barricades around Exarhia square. The gathered crowd (approximately two to three thousand) is not retreating and seems like its ready to clash. Most places in Exarcheia have no street lights on while there is extensive use of tear gas bombs.

Athens [20:06] Circling move by the cops. Demonstrators fight in close distance with cops. Cops took down banners that were hanged in Exarchia square. A riot control vehicle at Kallidromiou street. Delta team and MAT at Themistokleous street.

Thessaloniki [20:07] Cafe smashed after riot police rushed inside hunting for protesters.

Larissa [20:06] The demonstration has ended a while ago in the post-office square with great pulse from approximately 400 people.

Athens [20:00] Molotov cocktails’ attacks and clashes betweent demonstrators and cops in Exarcheia square. Frightened MAT drew back temporarily, throwing flash grenades at the same time. Barricades at Valtetsiou street.

Thessaloniki [19:57] Cops have surrounded the empty from people, Kamara. There have been 2 detentions. Photograph

Alexandroupoli [19:54] Approximately 30 anarchists and another 30 demonstrators in leftist block marched in memory of Alexandros Grigoropoulos.

Thessaloniki [19:45] Flash grenades in Agia Sofias street. Garbage bins in the junction between Egnatia street and Iasonidou street are burning. Stones have been thrown and the riot police has been chasing people towards Kamara. Photograph

Athens [19:46] Cops now encircling protesters at Propylaia. Platoons moving down surrounding streets.

Athens [19:43] Part of the demo turned suddenly right at Library building on Panepistimiou street. MAT forces were left behind. Small scale conflicts at Ipopokratous street and as a result some demonstrators head for Exarcheia and some towards Omonoia square.

Thessaloniki [19:40] The demo is back at Kamara. Demonstrators fold their banners. Many leave but some people stay on Egnatia str.

Komotini [19:40] Three banks trashed in Komitini after the demo.

Athens [19:30] The head of the demo is moving towards Penepistimiou str. The main body is at Syntagma. Photograph

Volos [17:30] The march reached Tholos place located within the university and received attack by the police. The march seems to have disrupted for the time being.

Athens [19:25] The demonstration reaches Syntagma square. Judging by the police presence on the street, the December revolt is still haunting the state. Solidarity and courage before state terrorism.

Athens [19:25] Caution. Vasileos Georgiou street, which is in front of Grand Britain Hotel, is closed from both sides. Attention!

Athens [19:13] The march has reached Syntagma square. Photograph

Komotini [19:10] Lots of cops are concentrated outside police headquarters of Rodopi. Photo

Athens [18:49] The demonstration has started, people are marching through Panepistimiou, towards Syntagma sq. Riot police (MAT), police on motorbikes (Delta) are almost in every corner of Kolokotroni St. There are many reports regarding the presence of undercover cops as well.

Athens [18:35] According to hellenic police, the detentions from the students’ demonstration are 55 of which 10 are arrests. It is reported that 4 police officers have been injured.

Komotini [18:40] The demonstration in memorial of Alexandros Grigoropoulos marches towards Komotini’s police station. Photograph

Athens [18:25] Approximately 3-4 thousand people at Propylaia (via 98fm). The banner reads “Time is changing, December is near. Antiauthoritarian Movement” Photograph

Thessaloniki [18:16] The march has started. The banner reads: “Student associations. We fight against: Fascism and state repression, educational reform, degree dissolution and tuition fees, anti-popular governmental policy – E.U – IMF policy, suspendings, layoffs. Keep your hands off our future. The struggle can neither be criminalized nor suppressed; it goes on until our positions are won. Photograph

Thessaloniki [18:10] Protesters are gathering for the march scheduled at 6pm. Photograph

New York [–] “Alex was here” and “Murderers” at the Greek Embassy in New York. Photograph

Athens [17:20] Two photoreporters detained in Monstiraki are being transferred to Acropolis P.D. even though they showed their ID’s. via Marios Lolos

Athens [17:19] “Alexis you live. We won’t forget 6/12/2008. Cops Pigs Murderers” at Korai sq. Photograph

Athens [16:40] Intervention with a banner in Ano Liosia. “We won’t forget Alexis Grigoropoulos nor anyone else murdered by the (para)state.”

Athens [16:16] The detained students are 26 up to now, many of them have been beaten up by riot police and are at the police headquarters. Watch out for undercover cops and cops in uniform. via 98fm

Athens [16:00] Legal support for today: 6976783658, 6944613555, 6979229075, 6946563482 and 6938675348.

Athens [15:58] From phone call: proactive detentions this minute in Athens. Comrade arrested on the corner of Benaki and Akadimias str.

Athens [15:50] Photo gallery from the brutal detentions at Propylaia. Photograph 1, Photograph 2, Photograph 3.

New York [–] Protest in memory of Alexandros Grigoropoulos. Photograph

Athens [15:11] The squads withdrew from Propylaia.

Athens [14:56] DELTA police and young undercover cops with backpacks in Benaki street. One person in charge is wearing a handset. At Zoodochou Pigis street in conjuction with Akadimias and at Panepistimiou street there are riot police squads. In every side street there are undercover cops.

Athens [14:53] 8 demonstrators were detained – 6 boys 2 girls – at Propylaia before and after the roundup. A lot of beating during the detainment and the roundup. SYRIZA MP’s are negotiating with the police to set the detainees free. via @kinimatini

Athens [14:50] The control tactic of the trapped students has ended with no detainees. The student who previously fainted was taken by an ambulance.

Athens [14:40] An ambulance has arrived at the spot and is giving first aid to students with breathing problems caused from tear gas.

Athens [14:37] Suffocating use of tear gas and heavy police presence. The cops allow the students to leave one by one only after they have been searched. Photograph 1, Photograph 2, Photograph 3.

Athens [14.27] A student fainted at Propylaia and riot police prevented people to reach and give first aid.

Athens [14:15] Approximately 20 young students are taken in a van from Propylaia towards the police headquarters. Whoever has lawyer’s or legal team’s telephone numbers, please inform.

Athens [14:06] The cops are driving reporters away from where the students are trapped; they are proceeding with mass detentions. Slogans like “the Passion for Liberty is stronger than all prisons” are chanted. Video

Athens [14:03] Cops attack the students with tear gas and they respond with stones and tangerines. Photograph

Athens [13:50] Riot police at Propylaia from side stairs and on the pavement. Approximately 150-200 students unable to leave. Detentions and asphyxiating atmosphere due to tear gas. Photograph

Athens [13:30] The student march reached Syntagma square with riot police following Photograph

Athens [13:00] The march continues with chants “Cops Pigs Murderers”. Banner reads “We live for today, we fight for tomorrow.” Photograph

Athens [12:53] According to mainstream media, 30 people first attacked and beat up a traffic policeman and then they attacked TV crews, suggesting that is what caused the riot police’s presence in Panepistimiou street.

Athens [12:40] The march has just started, and is surrounded by MAT squads #rbnews #6dgr #antireport

Athens [12:00] Banner reads “Alexis you are not forgotten” Photograph

Thessaloniki [11:45] The march reached Aristotelous street. Photograph

Athens [11:40] Molotov from unidentified people a few meters away from Aigaleo P.D.. No injuries occured.

Thessaloniki [11:30] The march in Thessaloniki has started with roughly 500 school students Photograph

Athens [11:10] School students are gathering at Propylaia. Photo

Athens [11:00] The municipality/ cops has removed the garbage bins from Exarhia once again in view of today’s protests.

Athens [10:00] Marches are scheduled for 11:00 and 18:00 at Propylaia.

Solidarity with the comrade Thodoris S. who is being prosecuted for the Marfin bank case

On May 5th 2010, the day of the enactment of the first memorandum and right after the country’s recourse to the Troika mechanism and the announcement of the first cutbacks, a general strike was declared and half a million people are out on the streets protesting, in a raging mood trying to reach the parliament. The rage of the people is such that it looks like they are even able to raid the parliament. Conflicts arise between the protestors and the forces of repression, with the latter seeming powerless to halt the momentum of the people. A few hours later information is disseminated about an incident at the Marfin bank at Stadiou street; 3 workers died due to a fire that broke out. The moment the information is confirmed the protesters freeze, and the rage is converted into disappointment and sadness causing the end of the promising protest.

On April 29th 2011, approaching the anniversary of May 5th, four people including three comrades are detained in a Hollywood-like police operation and they are called to testify as suspects for the arson at the Marfin bank. At the same time inspections take place at their houses during which clothes and personal belongings are confiscated. The media has already started talking about arrests and targeting the anarchist/antiauthoritian space even though the “leads” the police actually have are a anonymous and incoherent note with personal information about the prosecuted (names, phones, car plates, home addresses), holding them accountable for the death of the three employees caused by the fire at the bank and the attempted murder of all the people present there. The other so-called lead is a set of photos taken from cameras which, however, do not connect any of the prosecuted with the arson. After testifying the prosecuted are set free and the initial “leads” as well as the testimonies are sent to the public prosecutor who is not able to charge them. Consequently, he sends the file back to the police and it is ruled a cold case.

On May 5th 2013, on the anniversary (once again) and without any new evidence the investigator decides to press felony charges against the comrade Thodoris S. regarding the Marfin bank case, as well as against one of the four people accused of involvement in the Ianos bookstore case. No charges were pressed against the other two comrades. In his testimony on May 2013 the comrade repeated what was already stated from the start: “The case file clearly demonstrates, through the witnesses’ statements as well as the photo gallery and videos, that I have absolutely nothing to do with any attack that took place on that day in Athens.” After appearing before the prosecutor, he is released on bail (with one condition stating the prohibition of his participation in future protests). We are therefore waiting for a trial in which our comrade Thodoris S. will have to prove that he is not superman nor an elephant.

On September 17th 2013 Pavlos Fyssas is murdered by G. Roupakias and other Golden Dawners in the presence of a DIAS police squad. Roupakias is arrested since there are too many witnesses that can not be silenced. Since the state can’t conceal this murder as it has done with so many others, it chooses to take advantage of it by presenting an antifascist mask. The media game starts with the arrests of their sometimes former partners i.e. Golden Dawn party members and continues in harmony with media outlets by bringing back the horseshoe theory. The state’s agenda remains the same fascist agenda as that of Golden Dawn (medieval working conditions, concentration camps for immigrants and marginalized social groups, pillorying of seropositive women, zero tolerance towards any form of resistance) and always with the media’s support, was seeking to wash themselves clean in the antifascist pool of Siloam. So all those who welcomed and promoted the fascist ideology are now portrayed as antifascists. Among others, MEGA TV channel, partially owned by Bobolas who also is one of the main shareholders of HELLAS GOLD which with violence tries to impose gold mining in Chalkidiki calling the resisting residents terrorists. In addition to this, Proto Thema newspaper, partially owned by Anastasiadis (partner of Restis and Pallis), which was promoting Golden Dawn’s “contribution to society”. All those supposedly disgusted from the fascist murder and startled from the fascist raids are now trying to play the role of social normality’s sole guarantor aiming to maintain and strengthen their power, equating the “violence of the two extremes”.

Only a few days after Fyssas’ assassination the authorities dragged up the Marfin bank case once again in an attempt to equate the two events. The other extreme of violence, which is mirrored in Thodoris and consequently in every anarchist/antiauthoritian, must apparently be stamped out. Without any respect towards the memory of the dead or the mourning of their relatives, the state’s blatant scheme is promoted and the authorities initiate another witch hunt alongside the media. It is not coincidental that a report, in Chatzinikolaou’s tabloid Real News, publishes the personal information of our comrade labelling him in advance as guilty, long before the court case was set, painting him in a negative light.

Athens October 30th 2013, solidarity intervention for Thodoris S.
Athens October 30th 2013, solidarity intervention for Thodoris S.

On our part as anarchists/antiauthoritarians, we will not condemn violence regardless of the causes behind it. Because we do not accept any kind of equation between the social class counter-violence and police violence, bosses’ violence in working spaces, fascists’ violence against immigrants and all those who do not fit in their “Aryan” vision. We do not accept the equation between the violence that comes from the oppressors and the violence the oppressed use to fight for their beliefs. It goes without saying that the expression of social counter-violence on the streets is always targeted against the state and capitalism. The rationale which indiscriminately devalues human life is alien to us. We, as anarchists, never embraced terms such as “collateral damage” or “unfortunate incidents”. These are the state’s and bosses’ justifications of the assassinations committed by the repression mechanisms, the murders in sweatshops, and the fascist attacks. This is the rotten world of exploitation and barbarism which we try to destroy in order to create from the ashes a world of equality, solidarity and freedom.

We don’t need any bourgeois jury’s finding to convince us that out comrade is innocent. If they are looking for murderers they just have to look in the mirror.

We, comrades of Thodoris are going to stick in solidarity with him until the end of this prosecution, until this ridiculous case collapses. We will not become the scapegoats in this absurd game played by those who consciously ride roughshod over people and their struggles.

Solidarity assembly for comrade Thodoris S.

Communique on attacking “Palladium” internet-cafe, Exarcheia, Athens, Greece

On Tuesday night, November 26th, we rapidly assaulted “Palladium” internet cafe on Solomou street in Athens. We vandalized the interior, broke the monitors and the front glass window, set their server on fire taking all possible precautions to avoid any accident. We then left the scene collectively and securely, avoiding any unfortunate confrontation with the cops of team Delta (cops on motorcycles).

We were aware of various incidents involving that particular internet cafe. It was one of the favourite hangouts for the cops, something that the very owner of the place confessed to during the attack.

Every peaceful citizen who willfully puts on the cop’s uniform, everyone who impatiently waits for a cop to tap them cheerfully on the back for their services, everyone whose misery and servility has soaked every aspect of their personality, should keep this in mind: We won’t leave anything unanswered. As long as we’re able we will offer the snitches what they deserve: a nightmarish counter-answer for their slavish intentions. They’ve got names, addresses, shops and we know them. Their rationale is dangerous, their ideals rotten, they have consciously incorporated the obedient role of the snitch. They must be foolish to think we will leave them to their work without making them pay the consequences. Let people like the owner of “Palladium” internet cafe know that they will constantly be our target, as we show our detestation towards those who cooperate with cops. We owe it to our imprisoned comrades, to those who died and didn’t manage to fulfill their insurrectionary vision, to those who were screwed because of the snitches, as well as to those who struggle for the disturbance and deconstruction of social inertia.

We dedicate this particular action to the four comrades arrested in Nea Philadelpheia.
To the six anarchists on trial for the Velvento case and to all those who struggle confined by the walls of prison : Keep strong!

Anarchists

Scotland:Statement from University of Edinburgh Occupation

   We are students occupying the University of Edinburgh’s Finance Director’s office and have been in occupation since around 9.30am this morning (December 2nd). We stand in solidarity with university staff and demand that the University of Edinburgh:

  • Uses its weight and influence to argue for real-terms increases in university staff pay

  • Reduces the pay ratio between the lowest paid and highest paid staff in the university to 1:10