A group of protesters vandalized flower boxes newly installed in the center of Athens as part of the Great Walk project. They sprayed slogans on the boxes and even removed and overturned one. The tin planters were praised by the Athens Municipality as “anti-graffiti” and “up to one-tonne heavy” to avoid been damaged by the usual “vandals” during protests.
From the Athens University up Syntagma Square all flower boxes were sprayed with graffiti.
“Revolt”
“Antigraffiti”
Many Greeks held a “party” on Twitter mocking the “anti-graffiti” planters.
Δεν είναι βανδαλισμός είναι έλεγχος ποιότητας κύριε Μπακοζαρντινιέρα.#μεγαλος_περιγελος #μεγαλος_περιπατος #μεγαλος_περιδρομος pic.twitter.com/6XMQqu8tuW
— Patsis dimitrios (@dpatsis) July 7, 2020
“It’s not vandalism, it’s quality check, sir.”
Οι αντι-γκράφιτι ζαρντινιέρες του @KBakoyannis στο #μεγαλος_περιγελος
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/86HVRn2ZuU— ʍքǟȶɦǟֆ 💊 (@GiannisMpathas) July 7, 2020
“Antigraffiti planters”
anti-antigraffiti#μεγαλος_περιγελος pic.twitter.com/K6CoGWScij
— Γκόμενα του Αρτέμη (@gomena_artemi_) July 7, 2020
Οι ζαρντινιέρες που τυχόν θα πέφτουν, θα παραμένουν σε αυτή τη θέση με σκοπό να χρησιμοποιούνται ως εμπόδια από τους Αθηναίους που επιθυμούν να τρέξουν στον #μεγαλος_περιγελος μετ΄εμποδίων. pic.twitter.com/yZrH1AC4Pu
— Magellan (@KostasMagellan) July 7, 2020
However, the anti-graffiti material is something that prohibits the color of been absorbed and it can be removed with special chemicals.
Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis condemned the vandalism and posted a video showing municipal crews removing the graffiti with special cleaning material.
Μετά την βεβήλωση του μνημείου των νεκρών της Μαρφίν, επόμενη «επαναστατική» πράξη ο βανδαλισμός του αστικού εξοπλισμού…
Gepostet von Κώστας Μπακογιάννης – Kostas Bakoyannis am Dienstag, 7. Juli 2020
“After the desecration of the monument to the dead of Marfin, the next “revolutionary” act was the vandalism of the urban equipment of the Great Walk. Those who try to destroy and tear down are in vain. We will continue to build and dream of a better Athens. PS The planters have been cleaned, Bakoyannis wrote.
The protest on Tuesday was held against the government bill to limit rights to public gatherings.
More protests are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
The Great Walk Project has been sharply criticized due to interventions in the center of Athens that cause immense troubles to commuters, for its high cost and for recklessness in its planning that includes zero provision for watering of the new planted plants and trees.
