The Militant - February 17, 2014 -- Golden Dawn attacks anti-fascist memorial in Greece

Vol. 78/No. 6 February 17, 2014

Golden Dawn attacks anti-fascist
memorial in Greece

BY GEORGES MEHRABIAN
ATHENS, Greece — Some 100 members of an “assault squad” organized by the Golden Dawn party attacked a memorial marking the site in the working-class neighborhood of Keratsini where Pavlos Fyssas, a 34-year-old shipyard worker and well-known anti-fascist hip-hop artist, was killed by a supporter of the ultrarightist organization last September. The fascist thugs tore up a banner and other items placed there to commemorate Fyssas.

“They were marching in military formation. Their aim was to show their strength again,” said Giorgos, a university student who has been active in anti-fascist demonstrations in Keratsini and asked that his last name not be used.

They spray painted slogans around the area and attacked a nearby Resalto club where some neighborhood anti-fascist and anarchist youth gather. The Golden Dawn thugs smashed the windows with stones and bricks, injuring three people.

“During the attack, there were units of the police there but they did not intervene,” Giorgos said.

“I joined what turned out to be a spontaneous protest against these Golden Dawn thugs there,” Martha Pissanou, a 26-year-old laboratory technician and area resident, told the Militant. “Over 400 people had gathered within an hour after the attack.”

The attacks were timed to coincide with the announcement by Golden Dawn Parliament member Ilias Kasidiaris that he was running for mayor of Athens.

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