Thousands commemorate the 1973 Greek student uprising

By Tony Rigopoulos

ATHENS

Around 15,000 Greeks, mostly university students, took part Friday, in a massive demonstration from the center of Athens towards the US Embassy.

Despite it being the third day of heavy rain showers in the Greek capital, young men and women gathered to commemorate the 44th anniversary of a student uprising against the Greek dictatorship in 1973. The most prominent slogan back then was the call for “Bread – Education – Liberty”, a call which was repeated today by protesters.

Demonstrators gathered in two separate groups in the center of Athens but participated in a common march towards the American Embassy. The USA has allegedly played an important background role in the establishment of the dictatorship.

A 1973 blood stained Greek flag, which has been preserved since the uprising, was also paraded by students, earlier the same day.

“The message of the uprising is still valid. Today we protest against the agreements for the purchase of military equipment between Greece and the United States, and the facilitation of NATO forces in our country”, Vasilis, one of the protesters told Anadolu Agency.

On the 17th of November 1973 the Greek Army used an armored battle vehicle to invade the National Technical University of Athens, which was under student occupation for three days. Students were demanding the fall of the military dictatorship that was established through a coup led by Col. George Papadopoulos in 1967.

Although the march was peaceful, riots between anarchist groups and police forces broke out after the protest had ended, mainly in the streets surrounding the Technical University, in the district of Exarcheia. According to local media one person was slightly injured.