Greeks on the Go.

[Guest eisanbt]

Received this today, thought I'd share.

 

 

Tuesday (12/16): reports from Greece

The highschool students in Arta, Chania, Koridallo (Athens) demonstrated today. There was also a gathering of students outside the courtrooms in Athens in solidarity with the arrestees.

It was made known today that the ministry of education has started investigations on schools to find and punish teachers that support the students and accompanied them to demonstrations. The students themselves are threatened by some teachers and principals that there will be punishments if they occupy their schools etc, in many cases the threats are personal, against particular students.

 

In the early afternoon a group of 50-70 anarchists attacked the Riot police headquarters in Athens with rocks, sticks and molotov tails. They broke the building's windows and doors and set on fire 4 police cars and 1 police van. 2 cops were injured.

Video: in.gr - ??????????

 

In the afternoon during the prime minister's speech, students entered the studios of NET, a public national tv station, carrying banners on which was written: "Stop Watching, Everyone Take to the Streets", "Free the Prisoners", "Freedom from everybody" and changed the image from the prime minister to them! The station almost immediately stopped the program and the students were removed without having the chance to make any announcements. However the picture of the students in the studio holding the banners made it to the media and the messages was clear. Later on the manager of the greek public television made a ridiculous announcement condemning the protest and attacking the activists. All these days the media (NET included) is playing along with the government, degrading the protests, informing wrongly on purpose and fomenting the police brutality. It is said that the manager of the greek public television will resign because of the "intrusion". It is remarkable that after the murder of a 16 year old kid by the cops and heavy riots and public revolt for 10 days now, the only one who's resigning (or forced to resignation) is a... tv manager!

UK Indymedia - Student with banners in Greek state TV studio

Video: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK9lpMk7fiY]YouTube - Katalipsi sti NET tin ora ton eidiseon apo neous gia ti dolofonia tou Grigoropoulou[/ame]

 

In the afternoon, 1000 residents of the Exarchia area, the area where the 16 year old Alexandros was murdered had another demonstration against the presence of heavy police forces on their neighborhood for many years now. With (at least) 2 riot squads and numerous cops (many undercover) in the area at all times, the neighborhood looks more like an occupied area than a residential neighborhood in a free country. The residents had to face the riot squads again, even on this effort to show that the heavy police presence is unwelcome and it only brings problems. Don't forget that there were many incidents the last few days that the residents pushed the riot squads away, threw them lemons or sprayed them with water from their balconies and let people who were in danger of been arrested into their homes to hide.

Photos: ((i)) Indymedia :: Athens :: Newswire :: ??? ?? ??????????? ??? ???. ????? ?????????

more photos: ((i)) Indymedia :: Athens :: Newswire :: ??????????? ??? ?? ??????????? ??? ?.?. ????????? (?????, 16/12)

 

In Patras there was a big demonstration which was peaceful in the biggest part. 2 banks and an major insurance company were attacked and had their windows smashed.

Photos: ((i)) Indymedia :: Athens :: Newswire :: ?????: ??????????? ??? ??? ?????? 16 ????????

 

The city of Athens went all merry and festive today. The new big christmas tree was lighten up in Sintagma square. The previous one was set on fire during the riots last week. The mayor of Athens seems to forget that an innocent kid was killed in the city just 10 days ago. Fortunately about 200 activists were there today to remind it to him and everyone else. They protested by laying down in front of the christmas tree.

 

A building was occupied today in Serres and will be the place for meetings about actions in the city and also a center for informing the city citizens.

 

Police brutality is never sentenced in Greece

Today the trial of the "clay pot" incident ended. For those of you who don't know: In 2007 the Cypriot student Augoustinos Dimitriou was heavily beaten by a big group of cops. The police first claimed that the student injured himself (photo of the student after the beating: http://athens.indymedia.org/local/webcast/uploads/metafiles/756520_b.jpg ) when he stumbled and fell on a flowerpot. But the cops didn't know that the whole thing was filmed by a camera in a nearby building. Then the video reached the media and the brutality and the lies of the police were made public. At the incident there were not 2 or 3 cops but more than 15 cops and those who were not beating the student, didn't try to help him or stop their coworkers (cops in plain clothes). See the video of the incident: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6IfQ37BV7Q]YouTube - ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ???????????? 17-11-2006[/ame] 13 months later, the judge punished the 8 of the cops with sentences scaling from 15 to 39 months. The sentences can be either bought off or be suspended which probably means that no cop will be put to prison! This is the greek justice system!

Article: RIA Novosti - World - Eight Greek police officers convicted for beating student

 

Everyday that passes, more photos, videos and testimonies of police brutality are seeing the light of day. Here are some

 

The riot squads breaking up a peaceful student sit-in outside the main police department in Athens and violently arrest two underage students:

Photos: ((i)) Indymedia :: Athens :: Newswire :: ????????? ??? ??????? ?? ???????…??? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????.?????-???????-??????

Video: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIGnd06K8rM]YouTube - mpatsoi gada[/ame]

 

Another video of riot cops together with cops in plain clothes or parastate thugs with masks, carrying sticks, pretending to be protesters. One of those "protesters" who was photographed some days ago was recognized and it was published the police station he works in. I guess the police, the media and the judges should stop wondering who is smashing the small businesses. What more proof do they need?

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpkGxdfoTUM]YouTube - video ntokoumento apo to al tsantiri news gia ta epeisodia!!![/ame]

 

Finally, we should not forget to congratulate the police of Rethimno for the great accomplishment against a fearsome outlaw. Yes, I'm talking about the 14 year old kid who threw an orange on a police building. It was a miracle that nobody got hurt by this terrorist act (thousands were at risk) and I would like to thank the police for arresting him! ...jerks

[Guest eisanbt]

But, you know, those plain clothes cops, the police brutality, it only happens "Over there". We're above that kind of thing....

[ImWithStupid]

But, you know, those plain clothes cops, the police brutality, it only happens "Over there". We're above that kind of thing....

 

So, you've seen this in your neighborhood?. Anywhere in the US?. You're a hack! Take your propeganda elsewhere.

[Guest eisanbt]

So, you've seen this in your neighborhood?. Anywhere in the US?. You're a hack! Take your propeganda elsewhere.

 

Happen to my friends? Yah.

Happen to strangers in front of my work? Yah.

Happen in the US, no (I'm Canadian).

 

Calling me a lier on such matters will do little to change my stance, I know what I've experienced. But I suppose you can propagate an opposition to the other folk if they care to read...

 

"...When you've seen your father, beat down your friends

You can never look at him, the same way again..." ~Lyrics from a friend's song (his dad being a pig. He doesn't go home for x-mas anymore FYI).

[ImWithStupid]

Happen to my friends? Yah.

Happen to strangers in front of my work? Yah.

Happen in the US, no (I'm Canadian).

 

Calling me a lier on such matters will do little to change my stance, I know what I've experienced. But I suppose you can propagate an opposition to the other folk if they care to read...

 

"...When you've seen your father, beat down your friends

You can never look at him, the same way again..." ~Lyrics from a friend's song (his dad being a pig. He doesn't go home for x-mas anymore FYI).

 

You claim that in the US police dressed as demonstrators beat down your friend. I'll have to throw a BS flag on that one, buddy.

 

Again, move along with your propeganda.

[ImWithStupid]

You claim that in the US police dressed as demonstrators beat down your friend. I'll have to throw a BS flag on that one, buddy.

 

Again, move along with your propeganda.

 

You claim that some grand disservice has happened to someone you know by a couple of police officers. Let's assume this is true and your friend wasn''t combative or resistant of action. Take that alone. There are nearly 750,000 cops in the US. That is nearly two times as many cops as McDonald's employees.

 

Based on your shallow and biased assertion, denouncing all cops, for the actions of a couple would be like having a McDonald's employee damn near crap in your mouth, to make you hate the McDonald's corporation or assume that it's normal behavior.

 

Assuming your buddy didn't deserve the beat down.

[snafu]

Well one it was a riot. You need law and order. Two what the hell were they rioting about?

Should we or any country allow people to riot, burn and destroy property?

[ImWithStupid]

Well one it was a riot. You need law and order. Two what the hell were they rioting about?

Should we or any country allow people to riot, burn and destroy property?

 

From what I understand it's pent up frustration because of the economic and social issues and it was triggered by a teenager getting shot in a police shooting. Kind of like the Rodney King riots.

[wez]

Should we or any country allow people to riot, burn and destroy property?

 

That depends... Would I be rioting at the time?

[RoyalOrleans]

Assuming your buddy didn't deserve the beat down.

 

No one is above an ass-whooping.

[Anna Perenna]

Happen to my friends? Yah.

Happen to strangers in front of my work? Yah.

Happen in the US, no (I'm Canadian).

 

It's a shame when people can't comprehend a simple sentence.

 

Thanks for sharing this news, Eisanbt. IWS is an arrogant fool.

[ImWithStupid]

It's a shame when people can't comprehend a simple sentence.

 

Thanks for sharing this news, Eisanbt. IWS is an arrogant fool.

 

Love ya too, sexy lady.

[hugo]

You can never look at him, the same way again..." ~Lyrics from a friend's song (his dad being a pig. He doesn't go home for x-mas anymore FYI).

 

I find referring to police as pigs arrogant and foolish. Like every other group you will have your bad apples. Nor do I agree with all the laws that they must enforce. Those laws are made by the legislators.

[emkay64]

I thought he meant his Dad was a perv...I guess I got that way wrong.

[Guest eisanbt]

You can never look at him, the same way again..." ~Lyrics from a friend's song (his dad being a pig. He doesn't go home for x-mas anymore FYI).

 

I find referring to police as pigs arrogant and foolish. Like every other group you will have your bad apples. Nor do I agree with all the laws that they must enforce. Those laws are made by the legislators.

 

I'm alright with saying Pigs, but I agree such things can carry with them an unnecessary bias. The use of a negative term to contrast the common conception of cops as 'good guys' I feel is necessary in this case, and others, for without the negative fling there may be received a different message then that which I wish to convey. Simply put, 'Pigs' is to demonstrate a vantage point that sees them not as 'hero's' or 'protectors'.

 

The cops in my community growing up were a good lot (in my experience, a big issues with cops being that 'we' aren't often exposed to the other side of things), but those I have come into contact with in every urban center I've been to (all major cities across Canada), have been quite different. In Winnipeg for example there is, during tourist season, a special unit of uber-cops, still gun/taser toting, whose job it is to patrol the downtown on foot in friendly red t-shirts and taser/beat the great number of alcoholics, drug users and simply homeless who must spend their time on the streets (or in cells as it were). Could such folks cause an unwelcome disturbance? Yes. But as the local cop watch has demonstrated, on film, the men-in-red primarily just make use of their 'legitimate' force to harass people out of sight (out of sight, out of mind. Thus, no issue with homelessness and substance abuse ). It is no coincidence that a good majority of these folks are visible minorities (including that tiny minority actually native to this land). It would be foolish not to recognize that Colonialism continues to wreak havoc on many many people. It didn't stop in the late twentieth century when liberal politics, eg conventional concessions, recognized natives as people, but more over as 'Canadians' (Wasn't that nice of us? Excuse the tangent).

 

Oppression and destruction don't end with changes in State-Policy, they are not the last word, the war won. The destruction of the state is systematic, carried out in many ways by many people. The front line soldiers being the Pigs, who protect the interests of we privileged few using violence in all its forms.

 

I've met more then one 'good-cop' who themselves have said "maybe 10% of officers are alright, but this kind of power attracts the wrong kind of person."

 

 

 

Add On for hugo: The laws they MUST enforce is a tad ed in my opinion. It takes a special kind of monster to become the robotic-hand of policy makers, casting aside your humanity and better judgment (if its even there). The old "Toss 'em jews in the oven!" --> "Shur thig boss" comes to mind. You can't reassemble a human as you can an E-Cybo-Pouch, we don't work like that. Nor can we justly associate with one another in a disconnected, mechanical fashion. What whole satisfaction is derived from internet-interaction that goes beyond the realm of social life-support; enough to keep you alive but to enough for you to flourish? Again, just to show we don't work properly in robo-world (bah, the tangents )

[ImWithStupid]

I've met more then one 'good-cop' who themselves have said "maybe 10% of officers are alright, but this kind of power attracts the wrong kind of person."

 

I will agree that there is some kind of draw to law enforcement by type "A" personalities, but I'm throwing the BS flag on your "10%" claim.

 

I would say that maybe 3% definitely less than 5% of cops are bad. To try and say that only 10% of cops are good is ridiculous and you're full of crap that you were told that by a cop.

 

There would be a total collapse of society if 90% of cops were dirty.

 

Give me a break.