Protesters in Athens clashed with riot police close to the US embassy on Monday.
The protest was preceded by a commemorative rally reportedly attended by 20,000 in honour of the 1973 Athens Polytechnic uprising which opposed the Greek military junta of 1967-1974.
RT reports: Over 70 arrests from various parts of Athens were made after clashes broke out following the mass march, according to social media sources. Police fired tear gas at groups of youths who hurled stones and plastic bottles while burning US and EU flags.
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Shortly after 8:30 p.m. local time, a group of young protesters attacked a squad of riot police, which led to a manhunt in the surrounding streets. Police used tear gas and stun grenades and deployed Delta and Dias motorcycle police brigades to chase the youths.
According to the Keep Talking Greece portal, a female photo reporter and a male journalist – both working for the Greek section of VICE – were assaulted by police while covering the raid in the Exarxeia district of Athens.
Riot police allegedly beat the photo reporter and pulled her by the hair at the rally. A little later, the reporter was “harassed by eight policemen on motorcycles, the famous DELTA units, he was injured on the hand and knee, while right after four policemen got off their motorcycles and pushed him on the ground,” the portal reports.
Other information alleges that police also injured two kiosk workers, the Greek Tribune reports.
The clashes came just after 40,000 students, workers, and pensioners marched from parliament to the US embassy. The protesters – who accuse the US of backing the 1967-74 military dictatorship – shouted “EU, IMF out!” while marching
About 7,000 police officers were deployed, with many stationed at the Polytechnic University – where dozens were slain by tanks that crushed the 1973 revolt.
The demonstration takes place every year, with activists marching to denounce the alleged role that US intelligence agents played in the military dictatorship’s rise to power.
