Protesters marched in Athens against the Greek far-right Golden Dawn party
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Greek police fired tear gas on Saturday after protesters hurled petrol bombs in Athens at an anti-racism rally.
Clashes erupted after hooded demonstrators broke off from a peaceful march.
It marked four years since the killing of an anti-fascism rapper by a supporter of Greece’s far-right, ultra-nationalist party, Golden Dawn.
“We must close down the headquarters of this Nazi organization,” said protester Alexandra Martini.
“It is not a political party. Its offices are used to prepare racist attacks. From Greece to America, we are here to say that we will smash the fascists”.
Petrol bombs and tear gas in Athens rally to mark rapper killing https://t.co/wogpYpPdHz pic.twitter.com/FsNCd0dQS6
— Reuters UK (@ReutersUK) 16 septembre 2017
With a trial of Golden Dawn members still ongoing, the crowd demanded swifter justice for rapper Pavlos Fyssas and other victims.
Another protester, Maria Kaskarika, says a Golden Dawn member was arrested over an attack on her 24-year-old son last March.
“Everyone should stand against the Nazis…because Nazis attack everyone,” she said.
“We must stand united and set an example for anti-fascist movements around the world.”
Another rally marking the rapper’s death has been called for Monday in the working-class neighbourhood of Keratsini where he was fatally stabbed.
Our correspondent in Athens, Michalis Arampatzoglou, says: “Far-right violence did not stop at Pavlos Fyssas. In the first half of 2017, Greek police recorded at least 27 attacks with a possible racist motive against refugees or immigrants. The number is estimated to be higher, as many victims are afraid to report the attacks”.
with Reuters