According to a report by Efymerida ton Syntakon, the anniversary comes at a time of deep social unrest and "full-frontal repression." The publication notes that the current political climate is characterized by a government allegedly entrenching itself behind reactionary nationalism and anti-communism while attempting to ostracize Leftist ideologies. Collectives from the anarchist space and the extra-parliamentary Left argue that the state has launched a multi-faceted attack on civil liberties. This includes the implementation of stricter penal codes, the normalization of riot police (MAT) violence against demonstrators, and the dismantling of public education through the establishment of private universities and attacks on student unionism.
The grievances fueling today's rallies extend beyond police conduct. Efymerida ton Syntakon highlights a broader dissatisfaction with the state's management of recent crises, citing alleged cover-ups regarding the Tempi train tragedy and various financial scandals. Furthermore, labor rights have become a flashpoint, with protesters condemning legislation that allows for 13-hour workdays amidst a reported rise in fatal workplace accidents.
Student groups initiated the day of action with a midday march in central Athens. Their rallying cry, printed on posters by the Open Assembly Against Educational Restructuring, declared: "The flame of the uprising will burn forever inside us. Alexis Grigoropoulos is Always Present." A larger demonstration is scheduled for 6:00 PM at the Propylaea.
Central to this year’s demands is the case of Nikos Romanos. Solidarity assemblies describe his detention as an act of "vengeance" by the state—not merely against a specific individual, but against the teenager who once carried Grigoropoulos’ coffin. They argue the state is targeting the "generation of the uprising" that emerged from the streets of Exarchia. Political entities such as the New Left have also issued statements demanding transparency and Romanos’ release, citing a brutal violation of the presumption of innocence.
Background: The Grigoropoulos Case
The events of today are rooted in the tragedy of December 6, 2008, a defining moment for modern Greece. On that evening, in the Exarchia district of Athens, two special guards, Epaminondas Korkoneas and Vassilis Saraliotis, engaged in a verbal altercation with a group of teenagers. Korkoneas drew his service revolver and fired two shots. One bullet struck 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos in the chest, killing him almost instantly.
The killing sparked the most severe civil unrest in Greece since the restoration of democracy in 1974. For weeks, Athens and other major cities were engulfed in riots, with young people clashing with police, burning buildings, and occupying public spaces. The uprising was not just about police brutality but was an expression of pent-up frustration regarding corruption, economic stagnation, and a lack of future prospects for the youth.
In the ensuing legal battles, Korkoneas was initially convicted of homicide with direct intent and sentenced to life imprisonment, while Saraliotis was convicted as an accomplice. However, the legal saga has continued for over a decade with various appeals and re-sentencing hearings, keeping the memory of the incident—and the anger it provoked—painfully alive in Greek society.
Photo: The source