Sunday at the central square of Nea Smyrni was supposed to be relaxed for the residents of the suburb in southern Athens, but turned ugly when police terrorized families with children and brutally beat peaceful citizens who were standing by.
Batons fell on peaceful citizens for no reason in another act of arbitrariness which has turned into routine behavior in recent weeks.
.
Following an outcry and dozens of videos showing the police brutality, the Greek Police ordered internal investigation.
It all started around 3 o’ clock when police approached two families sitting on the benches. They told them to go away and threatened to take them to police station and emergency court if they wouldn’t do so. Some young bystanders protested the police behavior.
Soon more police on motorbikes rushed to the area, started to detain youngsters and even “raided” the park nearby where again families with children and elderly were enjoying the day.
The incidents escalated and police detained some 11 people.
The video showing the police brutality to a citizen in fact talking to police when he is brutally attacked by another officer flooded social media and triggered an outrage.
Ήμουν εκεί , ο καημένος αυτός πολίτης δεν έκανε τίποτα και δέχτηκε άγριο ξυλοδαρμό από τους μπάτσους , ντροπή και αίσχος
Αλλά και να έκανε κάτι η αστυνομία δεν θα έπρεπε να είναι σε θέση απλώς να δέρνει κόσμο γιατί απλώς μπορεί #Νεα_Σμυρνη pic.twitter.com/oo55hiE8nh— Θωμάς Μπαρης (@Thomasbaris) March 7, 2021
Το συγκλονιστικο βίντεο που αποδεικνύει την προπαγάνδα και τα ψέματα Χρυσοχοΐδη και των #μμε_ξεφτιλες
Ο νεαρός την ώρα που συζητά ήρεμα με αστυνομικό,στη #Νεα_Σμυρνη,δέχεται αναίτια επίθεση από αφιονισμένο συνάδελφο του και ξυλοκοπείται άγρια.#antireport #ΝΔ_Χουντα pic.twitter.com/d2V8ofhzJg— Marka1 (@Marka149133376) March 7, 2021
Χυδαία ψέματα από την αστυνομία για την καταστολή στη Νέα Σμύρνη – Το βίντεο της αλήθειας #Νεα_Σμυρνη
Διαβάστε περισσότερα εδώ: https://t.co/eoSgwV2HuD pic.twitter.com/UWO2laKPHj
— Η ΑΥΓΗ (@AvgiOnline) March 7, 2021
Speaking to Alpha TV, the two women from the families on the benches said that they were approached by police who told them in a very rude manner that they should go away.
The families, a total of 6 people, had sent sms <6> for personal exercise. Police told them that they are not allowed to sit down but they “should keep walking.”
They women said that they had walked 1.5 km and were taking a rest.
It was then when police who told them to “keep walking” and threatened them to take them to police station and emergency court. The children, both aged 8, got scared and started crying and it was then when the young people intervened.
The two women said that the whole incident was unacceptable and that they will seek the legal way.
Speaking to news24/7 on Monday morning, one of the women said that the officer issued a 300-euros fine for “unnecessary movement” despite the fact that they had had correctly sent sms <6> and were wearing a mask. When she asked “why the fine?” she received the reply “because I want to.”
According to Star TV, locals said that police also urged elderly and families with small children to leave benches and walk away.
Later police fired tear gas and flares among the crowd.
#antireport #Νεα_Σμυρνη
Εδω οι ρίψεις κρότου λάμψης μεσα στον κόσμο στην Νέα Σμύρνη.
Η χουντα σας θα τελειώσει σύντομα ξεφτιλες. #ΝΔ_Χουντα #ΝΔ_ξεφτιλες #ΝΔ_αλητες pic.twitter.com/S3b4mhlTQh— velocity (@velocity2121) March 7, 2021
#Νέα_Σμύρνη λίγη ώρα πριν. Βίντεο από FB pic.twitter.com/cOJBpFztzU
— mints (@noisymints) March 7, 2021
Some 1000 people marched later through the square and to the police station in protest with people in the middle-class suburb clapping in support from their balconies.
Η πορεία πάνω από 1000 ατομα κατευθύνεται προς το ΑΤ νέα Σμύρνη ο κόσμος θα τα μπαλκόνια χειροκροτεί pic.twitter.com/tZeX2iOxlL
— nikos christofakis (@ChristofakisN) March 7, 2021
Following the outcry on social media and by a part of the mainstream media, police put the blame on “anti-authoritarians” and claimed that they were target of an organized attack by “30 people who came out of a place,” (that was probably closed as all cafes etc are closed due to lockdown.)
One policeman was slightly injured in the hand when he was trying to “rescue the fines book.” The officers were called to the area after a complaint for people crowding in the square.
Late on Sunday, the Greek Police ordered an internal investigation on the issue.
Monday morning, the public prosecutor’s office in Athens reportedly ordered also a preliminary investigation for possible offenses committed by police.
Residents of Nea Smyrni told media that “crowding” is inevitable in the open square and the park as they are not allowed to leave the municipality with a vehicle since the tougher lockdown was imposed since Thursday.
It is not the first time I hear that police urges citizens to “keep walking” when they see people taking a rest on a bench. It was two week ago, when two elderly women were threaten with a 300-euro fine each if they wouldn’t immediately leave the bench. The women had walked some 500 meters away from their homes and were taking a short rest before return.
PS what is interesting is that many mainstream websites took down their original articles on the brutal incident in Nea Smyrni in which they had adopted the official police statement with the title “30 people attacked police” or that “police was attacked during lockdown checks.”
Every single one of those cops, as well as everyone up their chain of command all the way to the PM, need to be serving life in prison. right now. everybody needs to get out and demand their resignation and prosecution for their crimes against the people.
There are always two sides in every story….
unless one side is lying
But how to decide which side is lying?
1. no footage released by police to confirm claims – as it usually does when issues as controversial. 2. internal investigation
Easily. The enemy of the people are lying. The now enormous, fascist, thug police force being paid by Koulis’ corrupt government are lying. The media outlets that are only parroting what Greece’s dictator tells them to say are lying. Just open your eyes and you will see who is lying.
Disgraceful. The police force in Greece are acting more and more like fascists, with a personal vendetta against the average citizen. Acting this way in front of children who can be heard crying in the videos is inexcusable. Given Greek history, the police and by extension the government, seem to be going down a slippery slope. This is not the way to earn the public’s trust, nor is it the way to get people to comply. Quite the contrary. These officers shouldn’t act with impunity.
Sadly enough I cant read greek but the pictures are horrible. I just dont understand this, the police are taking it too far! What have the police got for orders and from whom??? Inhuman!!!
In the more modern Western nations, the police do not tolerate disrespect or disobedience. I don’t know if anyone is noticing but Greece now has debt, taxes, and a police force that doesn’t let goons coddle their criminality behind the protection of a university for nostalgia sake. Perhaps given the good with the bad, this once historic paradise might do well to also clean up the graffiti.
Actually, in the ‘more modern Western nations’, the police are totally accountable to the people and the government. If they act outside the law, they are punished by prosecution and lose their jobs, as do the people who issued their orders to act in that way.
And what might those nations be? Certainly not US, Germany, UK, France, Spain, etc. etc.
What is criminal about taking a rest on a bench? What is criminal about needing a break from going stir-crazy inside of your household prison? Even if those things were criminal, how are they deserving of a beating from the very people who are supposedly there to serve and protect? Are you a cop or a “politician”? You sound like one of the two.
Also, learn your history – there are very few periods of time since 1821 that enabled Greece to be a paradise. Sun and sea alone make not a paradise.
Completely unacceptable in a civilized nation
I do not think that there are many, if any, of you lived in or remember the Military/Police dictatorship that ruled the country at one time. i am old enough to remember it well, I lived here two years in the middle of it. I am living here again now. I will make some observations and let you all dwell on them: There were MORE freedoms during the Junta that there are now, this Prime Minister and his henchmen are insane, period. It is all about control and power by ego maniacs that think their ideas for people are the only ideas.
The laws that are being applied in the name of Covid-19 should apply to the Masonic Order, again…maybe this ruling Government will go away, and hide like it should.
Yes Harold I remember this period & totally agree with you.
This whole covid agenda is getting out of control everywhere!
It’s like watching the Human Race calmly walk off a cliff!!