[Onthebarricades] Antifa revolts in Greece and Spain

[Andy]

*  GREECE:  Antifa battle fascists in the centre of Athens; police side with 
fascists, let them snipe from behind lines
*  SPAIN:  Antifa battle fascists and police at neo-Nazi rally

Publicly Archived at Global Resistance: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/globalresistance


http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20080203152302925

Greece: Massive riots, police cooperates with fascists, during Antifa demo

Sunday, February 03 2008 @ 03:23 PM PST
Contributed by: Collin Sick
Views: 413
Detailed update of the events of Saturday 02/02, that took place in the 
center of Athens, as a response to the attempt of an extremist right wing 
organisation to commemorate a nationalist anniversary.

Since early in the morning about 50 fascists had been gathered in 
Kolokotroni sq, where the Neo-Nazi organisation "Chrissi Avgi" had planned a 
demonstration for 7pm. An anti-fascist demonstration had been scheduled for 
2pm, organised by many organisations; though, since the square had been 
occupied since early, 400 demonstrators from the left and 
anarchist/anti-authoritarian space, gathered in Propylaea an Klafthmonos sq.

When the antifascists approached Kolokotroni sq, they saw a chain of cops, 
forming a shield for the fascists, who were standing behind the cops. At 
some points the cops left some space for the fascists to move in between 
them. This way, the fascists managed to stub two of our comrades and hit 
another two ones with stones. The guy who was stubbed, was moved to 
Evangelismos Hospital, where he stayed, after being having a surgery; his 
situation is not critical. A young man who had been stabbed on his leg and 
another one who was hit with a stone on the head, had to be treated for just 
a few hours. A fourth person, hit by stone, didn't need any treatment.

At about 11am, there was an attack towards the fascists, stones were thrown 
and the two opponent blocks came very close. The cops intervened, pushing 
the demonstrators back, spraying tear-gas and beating with batons. An 
antifascist fainted, beaten with a baton, while a video of the corporate 
media showed fascists, holding greek flags, flare rockets etc, to be in the 
lines of the policemen attacking the antifascists. Confrontations also took 
place in several places in Athens, as groups of individual fascists and 
antifascist, who were moving down-town, meet each other.

At 1 o'clock, another march, consisting of 200 people protesting against 
Bionova and Genetically Modified Organisms, started, since it had been 
planned long time ago. They finally chose to walk on Panepistimiou and join 
the others. The antifascists made chains and started moving to Panepistimiou 
to let the two marches together.

2pm: Antifascists threw stones and sticks to the fascists, at the junction 
of Panepistimiou and Sina str.. The cops intervened and there was tension, 
including tear-gas, sth that happened again later. The left antiracist 
organisations, which organised the demonstration, announced they have 
decided to leave the place. The riot police attacked with chemicals, so that 
they can reclaim Panepistimiou str. About 500 demonstrators, blocked in 
Propylaea, occupied the Prytaneum, made a plenary and called for an 
antifascist demonstration at 6pm.

A little later than 3pm, the Public Prosecutor announced their decision to 
ban the manifestation of the fascists and disperse their gathering. The 
fascists initially refused, but left when they saw more squads coming. MP of 
a left party said to radio station that he saw with his own eyes, riot 
policemen to be loading a van with sticks, which were given to the fascists.

7pm: evening demonstration from Propylaea:

A little after the march had started, with more than 600 people, the riot 
police attacked without reason, beating mercilessly with batons and throwing 
a big mass of chemicals and flare rockets. The batons and the chemicals 
resulted in many people to be beaten or stepped over, including 
demonstrator, passer-by civilians and TV camera operators. About 120 people 
were arrested and brought to the police headquarters, including some injured 
ones, while the more seriously injured ones went to the hospital in an 
ambulance. Small groups of demonstrators were isolated and blocked in 
several places, while 300 people managed to run to Exarchia sq; the formed 
roadblocks as they were surrounded by police squads.

The situation got calm at about 10pm, when all the arrestees were released 
with no charges. Those who were in Exarchia dispersed in small groups, after 
some time. Among the ones in hospital, 4-5 of them stayed there, including a 
female comrade who had been hit by a tear-gas shot directly on her eye and 
her forehead.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/02/390563.html

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100008_05/02/2008_93005

Police pass riot blame around
Law enforcement officers were blaming each other yesterday for the poor 
policing of Saturday's demonstration ahead of an upcoming annual review of 
senior police positions next month.
Three people were injured on Saturday as hundreds of extreme leftists and 
self-styled anarchists clashed with far-right Chryssi Avgi members in 
central Athens.
The clashes brought central parts of the city to a standstill as shoppers 
ran for cover in a situation that appeared to have gone beyond police 
control.
Some 200 police were called in to defuse the situation but no arrests were 
made, despite 100 people being initially detained. Senior police sources 
gave conflicting accounts of what happened in what is widely perceived as 
being a failed police operation. "Police had been given the wrong 
information. The far-right groups and anarchists gathered at 10 a.m. instead 
of 2 p.m. as expected. This resulted in having only 20 police at the ready 
when the violence broke out," said Costas Karadimas, a member of the riot 
squad. Others sources said the police had been well-prepared.
"There was absolutely no element of surprise involved. We followed the steps 
of the demonstrators. We made available 100 police so the plan would be 
completed successfully," another police source said. The government is 
scheduled to review senior police positions in March as part of an annual 
review that could lead to changes at the top of the force.

http://deviousdiva.com/2008/02/04/riots-in-athens/

Riots in Athens
Published by deviousdiva February 4th, 2008 in Neo-nazi.
On Saturday here in Athens there were riots when an anti-fascists groups 
clashed with Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avgi, the far-right extremists). I had to 
go downtown but before I left the house I checked to find out exactly where 
they were so that I could avoid that area. Thankfully, I didn't come across 
any trouble. Apparently there will be an investigation into whether the 
police protected the neo-Nazis and allowed them to attack the demonstrators. 
I think it is quite well known that the police (not only in Greece) 
generally side with the neo-nazis either by doing nothing or by actually 
allowing them to attack people. There is a suggestion here that the police 
actually helped them. I doubt very much if any of the Golden Dawn people 
will be arrested or charged with anything even though two people were 
stabbed and others were injured by flying stones.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100006_04/02/2008_92961

Hundreds of extremists run riot in city center

PETROS GIANNAKOURIS/AP
A youth prepares to throw a stone during clashes between extreme leftists 
and demonstrators from the far right in the center of Athens. Riot police 
fired tear gas to disperse the two groups as passers-by ran for cover from 
the hail of missiles being launched by the two sides.
The center of Athens erupted into violence on Saturday when more than 500 
extreme leftists and self-styled anarchists clashed with far-right 
demonstrators, resulting in three people being injured but no arrests.
The clashes began on Saturday morning when two groups of extreme leftists 
met on Stadiou Street in the city center and ran into members of the 
far-right Chryssi Avgi (Golden Dawn) group that had gathered in Kolokotroni 
Square to mark the 12th anniversary of the Imia islets dispute with Turkey.
It is estimated that there were at least 400 leftists and about 100 
right-wingers involved in the clash. The two groups hurled rocks, pieces of 
wood and any other objects they could get hold of.
Some 200 riot police were called in to try and defuse the situation. 
Officers used tear gas to disperse the rioters, who had erected burning 
barricades along Stadiou Street. The leftist demonstrators also clashed with 
riot police on Panepistimiou Street a little later.
The clashes led to two people suffering head injuries that required hospital 
treatment. Another person was stabbed in the stomach and needed a minor 
operation. None of the injuries were life threatening. Four policemen were 
also slightly injured after being struck by rocks.
The police issued a statement yesterday saying that 100 people, 66 men and 
34 women, had been detained and questioned following the riots but all of 
them were released.
According to a police statement, six banks, one store and four CCTV cameras 
were damaged during the clashes.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/01/content_7697293.htm

Spanish riot police clash with anti-fascists
www.chinaview.cn 2008-03-01 19:36:16 Print

Spanish riot police clash with anti-fascists, who were trying to stop a 
rally of right wing supporters, in central Madrid Feb. 29, 2008. Police 
fired tear gas and rubber bullets at anti-fascist protesters in central 
Madrid on Friday night as they tried to stop a right-wing rally near an 
immigrant area of the city. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

http://www.newsnet14.com/2008/03/09/anti-racists-riot-in-madrid-police-respond/

Police teargas anti-racist rioters in Madrid
29 Feb 2008 23:15:41 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Andrea Comas
MADRID, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Spanish police fired tear gas and rubber bullets 
at anti-fascist protesters in central Madrid on Friday night as they tried 
to stop a right-wing rally near an immigrant area of the city.
Anti-fascists threw rocks behind burning barricades in narrow cobbled 
streets and at least one car was set alight. Some of hundreds of far-right 
activists, separated from left-wing protesters by lines of riot police, gave 
Nazi salutes.
According to a Reuters witness more than 1,000 anti-fascists gathered to 
protest the far-right meeting in Tirso de Molina, a few hundred metres from 
Madrid's main square, after local authorities sanctioned the rally.
The violence comes just over a week before Spaniards vote in a general 
election where immigration has become a major issue for the first time.
Posters had been pasted on walls in the area earlier in the week warning of 
a racist demonstration. Protesters, joined immigrants, blocked roads leading 
down into Lavapies, an area with a large African and Chinese populations.
Demonstrators chanted "You shall not pass," and "Brother Carlos, we will not 
forget you", referring to 16-year-old Carlos Javier Palomino, an anti-racist 
protester who was stabbed and killed during a confrontation with rival 
groups last November.
A spokesman for Madrid's ambulance service said nobody had been injured 
though left-wing media said one protester had been blinded in one eye.
Anti-fascist protesters also threw bricks through the windows of several 
banks and smashed up offices inside, eyewitnesses said.
The number of migrants living in Spain has increased fivefold in the last 10 
years and now account for 9 percent of Spain's 45 million people.
The opposition Popular Party calls immigration a "problem" and proposes 
measures to compel immigrants to integrate, including restricting the use of 
Islamic headscarves. The ruling Socialist party has dismissed the Popular 
Party proposals as xenophobic. (Writing by Ben Harding)

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D943591F-1C4A-4129-A6C3-096FDEDBDE46.htm

Police break up protest in Spain

Madrid's ambulance service said nobody was injured in the confrontations 
[AFP]

Spanish police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at anti-fascist 
protesters in central Madrid as they tried to stop a right-wing rally near 
an immigrant area of the city.

Anti-fascists threw rocks behind burning barricades in narrow cobbled 
streets on Friday and at least one car was set alight.
Hundreds of far-right activists, separated from left-wing protesters by 
lines of riot police, gave Nazi salutes.

The violence comes just over a week before Spaniards vote in a general 
election where immigration has become a major issue for the first time.

Reports said more than 1,000 anti-fascists gathered to protest the far-right 
meeting in Tirso de Molina, a few hundred metres from Madrid's main square, 
after local authorities sanctioned the rally.
'Racist demonstrations'
Posters had been pasted on walls in the area earlier in the week warning of 
a racist demonstration.
Protesters, joined immigrants, blocked roads leading down into Lavapies, an 
area with a large African and Chinese populations.
Demonstrators chanted "You shall not pass," and "Brother Carlos, we will not 
forget you", referring to 16-year-old Carlos Javier Palomino, an anti-racist 
protester who was stabbed and killed during a confrontation with rival 
groups in November.
A spokesman for Madrid's ambulance service said nobody had been injured. One 
media source said a protester had been blinded in one eye.
Anti-fascist protesters also threw bricks through the windows of several 
banks and smashed up offices inside, eyewitnesses said.
The number of immigrants living in Spain has increased fivefold in the last 
10 years and now account for nine per cent of Spain's 45 million people.
The opposition Popular Party calls immigration a "problem" and proposes 
measures to compel immigrants to integrate, including restricting the use of 
Islamic headscarves.
The ruling Socialist party has dismissed the Popular Party proposals as 
xenophobic.

http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_15356.shtml

Anti-riot police in clashes with demonstrators in Madrid
By h.b. - Mar 1, 2008 - 8:57 AM
ALSO SEE : . Ten Injured as Police break up anti-fascist demonstration in 
Madrid - Nov 25, 2007 - 11:47 AM

The scene of destruction in the Plaza de Tirso de Molina - Photo EFE
enlarge photo

The clashes came after anti-fascist demonstrators went to stop a pro-fascist 
demonstration in the capital
Anti-riot police have been out on the streets of Madrid as clashed have been 
seen with hundreds of anti-fascist demonstrators. The protestors went to the 
Plaza de Tirso de Molina in the capital where supporters of Francisco Franco 
were holding an act in homage to the dead dictator.

As the demonstrators fled from police they damaged cars, threw stones and 
bricks at the police, and set fire to rubbish containers in the street. It 
seems there was not direct fighting between the two groups of demonstrators.

Police responded using rubber bullets and smoke bombs, and made a total of 
six arrests.