While the parade in Athens was relatively quite due to highest security measures, people’s outrage against the government austerity policies could be tamed only with the use of tear gas. The protesters were armed with the usual “ammunition”: eggs, yogurt, coffee, water bottles and bitter oranges that grow wild on the streets and heavy insults against the politicians.
In Patras, western Peloponnese, a group of people clashed with riot police before the parade even started. The police fired tear gas even inside shops. Visitors in several cafes flew in panic.
Video: Patras – Protesters – police
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The parade started half an hour later than scheduled, the dignitaries had flown the area seeking safety. Patras resident told reporters, politicians should dare stay and “get some tomatoes”.
Video: Patras Resident
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Woman: “What kind of parade is this? Where are the dignitaries? they should come and get some tomatoes for all they’ve done to us. I am hungry. I have been left with a pension of 200 euros. How can I survive witth this money?”
In Chania, Crete, protesters clashed with the police after a sound storm of anti-geovernment slogans. A woman fainted and was taken to the hospital due to excessiver use of tear gas.
In Iraklio, Crete, members of several civic movements broke into the area of the parade, the police fired tear gas, the parade was cancelled.
Iraklio
In Xanthi, NE Greece, dignitaries fled when protesters started to march after the parade. Before the parade protesters clashed with police, when the first attempted to march.
Xanthi
In Larisa, central Greece, students turned their heads away from the dfignitaries and some even hailed them with open hands (moutza). After the parade, protesters clashed with police, two people were detained.
In Rhodes, microphones were turned off in order to “silence” the insults, the booes and the slogans chanted by the people.
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In Thessaloniki, 15 people were detained. the parade started later than scheduled due to protesters who chanted anti-government slogans.
Video: Thessaloniki
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In Chios, a group of protesters marched before the parade under the applaud by the people.
Tensions between police and protesters occurred also on the Ionian islands.
In Veria, police detained 32 protesters. Some of them were apparently carrying wooden clubs.
The list of protests during the parade is long….
i dont believe you ktg. our glorious primeminister, avramopoulos and athens mayor kaminis, said this was a great parade with no problems. are you telling me that the politicians arent aware of what is happening and they are saying “let them eat cake”? that doesnt sound like our politicians. and im sure the police threw the tear gas in shops as an incentive for more people to attent the parades instead of being lazy greeks in cafes. i dont think i can handle any more sarcasm for a day. happy independence day ktg, we may need anew one in the future.
it’s terrible and i don’t like it
I might agree with you if I knew WHAT you find terrible and WHAT it is you don’t like. 😕
Our parelasis went without problems. It was fast and furious! In 4 minutes flat it was over. Just missed the soldier-boys this year… must be the strict austerity? But instead we got the sub-commander of the local base and a soldier-GIRL!!! Nice skirts they wear… The local priest looked very pleased with procedings. 😛
aha 🙂 marching in quick step to avoid protests? soldier-girl? nice skirts? that was manupulation of the public opinion and distraction from the real problems (lol)
It worked. 😆