Polytechnic anniversary march concludes at US embassy with minor incident
The rally and march commemorating the 49 years since the Polytechnic uprising against the junta in 1973 concluded shortly after 20:00 on Thursday, after reaching the US embassy in Athens.
University student unions, representatives of agencies and of main opposition SYRIZA, PASOK-KINAL, and MeRA25, as well as of non-parliamentary leftist parties, labor unions and antiestablishment groups rallied at Klafthmonos Square on Stadiou and marched to the US embassy. Political leaders joining the event included main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Dimitris Koutsoubas, and MeRA25 Secretary Yanis Varoufakis, each marching with their party group.
Ahead of the main body of the protest march went the Association of Jailed and Exiled Anti-Junta Fighters holding a banner saying "Resistance against fascism forever".
KKE marched to the American embassy independently, while before the main rally began the PASOK-related student union PASP marched by itself holding the blood-spattered flag of the university students killed during the junta's attack on the university. PASP completed their march to the American embassy at 17:20.
Brief incidents took place at Klafthmonos Square shortly after the main body of the protesters started off, when a group of unknown people threw firebombs at police, who responded with flashbangs.
Road traffic restrictions were introduced in the greater Athens area from Wednesday because of the events, and heavy security measures in place on the streets including extra security at universities, embassies and government buildings.
AMNA
