A big demonstration was organised in Athens, the capital of Greece, on the 50th anniversary of the Polytechnic Uprising. In addition to students, many citizens, political parties and labour organisations participated in the demonstration.
Tens of thousands of people gathered in front of the National Technical University of Athens, known as Polytechnic, and marched after leaving red carnations at the gate of the university. A large number of police were stationed in the capital during the march.
Many people carried Palestinian flags and banners reading “No to the genocide against the Palestinian people” and “Freedom for Palestine”.
The Greek working class organisation All Workers’ Militant Front (PAME) and many trade unions participated in the demonstration with a large crowd, while the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) also participated with a large number of people.
TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan was at the front of the cortege together with the KKE leaders.
In the cortege of the KKE, where red flags were waved, the slogan “History was written in 73. New popular uprisings with the KKE to overthrow the government”, “Greece will not be involved in the massacre”, “Legitimacy is engraved in the memory of the people. Victory in the struggle of Palestine” banners were carried.
The march ended at the Venizelos Monument.
Polytechnic Uprising
The Polytechnic Uprising in Greece, which led to the downfall of the fascist Junta, began in 1973 as a mass student demonstration. The protests began on 14 November 1973 and quickly turned into an anti-junta uprising.