2021 Greek protests
Date4 February 2021 – March 2021
Location
Greece
Caused by
Goals
Methods
Resulted inProtests contained
  • Kerameus-Chrisochoidis Law passed and partially implemented
  • Koufontinas' hunger strike ended[4]
Parties
Lead figures

No centralized leadership

The 2021 Greek protests broke out in response to a proposed government bill that would allow police presence on university campuses for the first time in decades,[2] for which opposition groups accused the government of taking advantage of the COVID-19 lockdown to impose increasingly authoritarian measures.[6] Protests intensified in response to the hunger strike of the prisoner Dimitris Koufontinas, a former member of terrorist organization 17N, who had started the strike in December, demanding his transfer to a different prison after he had been forcibly relocated to a maximum-security facility in central Greece,[3] as well as issues relating to police brutality and specifically the DELTA Force motorcycle police.[8]

The prime minister condemned the opposition parties as having "exploited lockdown fatigue", which he blamed for the frequent rallies.[9]

Events

February

On 4 February, university students and teachers took to the streets to protest against a proposed education reform bill that would allow for a renewed police presence on university campuses. 5,000 protestors demonstrated in Athens, while an additional 1,000 demonstrated in Thessaloniki. In defiance of the ban on public gatherings imposed by the lockdown, students organized weekly protests to continue against the new bill.[2]

On 10 February, the date of a scheduled debate on the education reform bill, clashes broke out with the police in Athens and Thessaloniki, during which police used tear gas to disperse protests and protestors threw bottles, rocks and molotov cocktails back at the police.[6][10]

On 22 February, protestors occupied the principal's building in the University of Thessaloniki and, when police attempted to remove them, clashes broke out. This led to the arrest of 31 people and the issuing of €300 fines to 32 protestors, for violating the terms of the country's lockdown.[11] More than 5,000 people subsequently gathered outside a courthouse in Thessaloniki to protest in support of those arrested.[12]

On 23 February, people scattered leaflets outside the presidential mansion of Katerina Sakellaropoulou, to protest in support of Dimitris Koufontinas.[13]

On 24 February, a Koufontinas solidarity demonstration in Athens was dispersed by police using tear gas, stun grenades and a water cannon.[14]

March

On 1 March, the Greek government refused Koufontinas' demand of transfer to Korydallos Prison. By this point, Koufontinas' health had seriously deteriorated due to the effects of his hunger strike. Thousands of people held peaceful protests in Athens and Thessaloniki following the government's decision.[15]

On 7 March, the Athens police reported that when a police patrol entered Nea Smyrni to investigate reports of lockdown violations, they were subsequently attacked by a group of 30 people, injuring 2 officers, leading to the detention of 11 people. However, videos of the event emerged, showing peaceful protestors being thrown to the ground by the police and attacked with batons. Four hours later, more than 500 people gathered to protest the incident and were violently dispersed using tear gas and stun grenades. Pavlos Christidis of the Movement for Change denounced the incident, claiming that “It wasn’t an accident. The government and Mitsotakis wanted this.”[16]

On 9 March, 5,000 people gathered outside the precinct in Nea Smyrni to protest against the police brutality, during which young protestors threw stones and molotov cocktails at the police. The police responded with water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades, but during the clashes, a police officer was severely injured by protestors. Young protestors attacked an Athens police station with molotov cocktails, severely injuring one police officer. Testimonies and videos show cases of police brutality even against journalists.[17] Among the videos published there exists one in which a police officer appears to throw a molotov cocktail to the protestors.[18] Another video shows police officers shouting among them "Let's go kill them!" (the protestors).[19] In total, 10 people were arrested on suspicion of participating in the riots, and some of them allegedly tortured.[20] The riots were condemned by both the government and opposition parties.[21][22] The prime minister gave a televised address in response, during which he said: “Blind rage does not lead anywhere. It should serve as a wake-up call that the life of a young policeman was endangered. At this point everyone must display restraint and calm.”[23]

On 11 March, after the occupation at the University of Thessaloniki was ended by police, 8,000 people protested against the police crackdown. Protestors clashed with the police, during which firebombs and tear gas were exchanged, and multiple people were arrested.[24]

On 14 March, Dimitris Koufontinas ended his hunger strike after 66 days, as it had led to kidney failure. He thanked those that had protested in solidarity with him in his “fight against an inhumane power system.”[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Next challenge to implement law on campus security, says Kerameus". Ekathimerini. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Greek students, teachers protest planned education reform". Associated Press. 4 February 2021. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Kitsantonis, Niki (3 March 2021). "Protests and Vandalism Follow Hit Man's Hunger Strike". New York Times. Athens. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Jailed terrorist Koufodinas ends hunger strike after 66 days". Associated Press. 14 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  5. ↑ Ν. Σμύρνη: Νέα πορεία από τη νεολαία ΣΥΡΙΖΑ στις 18:00 μαζί με τους "Πάνθηρες" του Πανιωνίου
  6. 1 2 3 "Protest gets heated ahead of campus policing vote". Athens: Associated Press. 10 February 2021. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "Οι γειτονιές ανήκουν στους ανθρώπους τους, όχι στην αστυνομία. Το #ΜέΡΑ25 είναι εκεί". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  8. ↑ "Greece violence: Officers injured in police brutality protests". BBC News. 2021-03-09. Archived from the original on 2021-03-13. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  9. ↑ Gatopoulos, Derek (12 March 2021). ""Lockdown fatigue" blamed for fueling mass protests". Athens: Associated Press. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  10. ↑ Smith, Helena (11 February 2021). "Greek students at the barricades in dispute over education bill". The Guardian. Athens. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  11. ↑ "Dozens arrested in clashes over campus security law". Thessaloniki: Associated Press. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "Thousands of students rally in Greece against new police law". Associated Press. 23 February 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  13. ↑ "Supporters of jailed gunman target home of Greek president". Athens: Associated Press. 23 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "Greek police clash with supporters of jailed guerrilla assassin". Athens: Reuters. 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "Greek far-left hit man on hunger strike denied jail move". Associated Press. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  16. ↑ Nellas, Demetris (7 March 2021). "Greek police, protesters clash in Athens suburb". Athens: Associated Press. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  17. ↑ "Νέα Σμύρνη: Όλα τα βίντεο με τα περιστατικά αστυνομικής βίας". www.news247.gr (in Greek). 10 March 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  18. ↑ Καμήλαλης, Θάνος (2021-03-12). "Σοβαρά ερωτήματα από βίντεο αστυνομικού να πετάει μολότοφ". The Press Project - Ειδήσεις, Αναλύσεις, Ραδιόφωνο, Τηλεόραση (in Greek). Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  19. ↑ tvxs.gr (2021-03-10). "Τα ντοκουμέντα της αστυνομικής μανίας στη Νέα Σμύρνη: «Πάμε να τους σκοτώσουμε! Θα τους γα@@@ουμε!» [Όλα τα Βίντεο]". TVXS - TV Χωρίς Σύνορα (in Greek). Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  20. ↑ ""Μου είπαν "θα βιάσουμε μέχρι και το κουτάβι σου""". Η Εφημερίδα των Συντακτών (in Greek). 16 March 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  21. ↑ "Youths protesting police violence attack Athens precinct". Associated Press. 9 March 2021. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  22. ↑ "Street battles in Greece after march against police violence". Al Jazeera. 9 March 2021. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  23. ↑ Smith, Helena (10 March 2021). "Greek PM appeals for peace after police brutality ignites riots". The Guardian. Athens. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  24. ↑ "Greek protesters attack police with firebombs at rally". Associated Press. 11 March 2021. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
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