Exarchia, Saturday night, around 20:30, 26 June 2022. People are starting to gather in Exarchia Square for the march against gentrification, evictions, political denaturalization and state repression in Exarchia. In front of the astonished eyes of the assembled people 5-6 motorbikes of the police group DRASI are defiantly passing by Exarchia Square. Apart from voices denouncing this provocative move by the police and warning of the response they will get the next time they provoke, there is no aggressive move against the police.
What are the police officers going and doing on their part? They leave and come back with more reinforcements to provoke incidents, about 15-20 motorcycles. The result of this is what is recorded in the video.
During their panicked retreat and after once again suffocating the area with asphyxiating gas, they even left behind radios, according to witnesses.
The march through Exarchia moved dynamically with the participation of hundreds.
Below is the text calling for the march:
“25 JUNE – DAY OF NATIONWIDE AND INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE DEPENDENCIES
To defend the neighbourhood of the world that holds many worlds.
A neighbourhood where people of all genders, ages and backgrounds can co-exist with respect. Where the militant history of yesterday meets the struggles and resistances of today.
Against gentrification, evictions, political denaturalization, state repression. To fight for the Exarchia of social self-organization, class solidarity, revolt
– NO Metro in Exarchia Square
– No surrender of the Strefi Hill to private interests
– Let the Polytechnic remain a place of meeting and struggle
– Reduction in rent prices / No eviction
Dark Nights: Further to this video our comrades who are on the ground would like to let the international circles know that the environment at the moment in Greece is a tinderbox ready to light up, with anarchist comrade Giannis Michailidis on hunger strike since 23/5, with many slogans being shouted for him during the protest and the ensuing riots.
During the riot a car was found with a surveillance camera at the spot where the protest was supposed to begin, also where the DRASI cops attacked the crowd before the protest. The car was smashed and the camera was taken. This happened only days after the Anti-Terrorist cops used a surveillance camera in a car to monitor anarchist comrade Nikos Romanos, his friends, family and comrades. Nikos Romanos is a friend and comrade of Giannis Michailidis, who were both arrested and tortured by cops after an attempted double bank robbery in Velvento in 2013.