Title: Today fascism dies / ΣΉΜΕΡΑ ΠΕΘΑΊΝΕΙ Ο ΦΑΣΙΣΜΌΣ
Polytechnic: from occupation to invasion / Πολυτεχνείο: από την κατοχή στην εισβολή
Photographer(s): Alekos Vutsaras
Writer(s): Ianni Fatsi
Designer(s): Lisas Delivani Botasi
Publisher(s): Ermias, Athens,Greece
Year: 1974
Print run:
Language(s): Greek
Pages: 160
Size: 21 x 26,5 cm
Binding: Softcover
Edition:
Print: Dimitris Auromopulos Srl, Athens,Greece
Nation(s) and year(s) of Protest: Greece,1973
ISBN:
1973 was an important year for Greece, as large street demonstrations in Athens protested and openly challenged the regime of the military junta that had ruled the country since 1967. The demonstrations started on 14 November 1973 and ended on 17 November, and were bloodily suppressed by the police. On the anniversary of this date, student movements in Greece took to the streets again today, protesting against what they call a new dictatorship by the markets, international finance and the so-called troika, the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The protesters 38 years ago in Greece were mainly young people, university students. The military junta had banned, among many other things, student associations and elections to university councils. Over the years, student discontent had led to many protests. In 1970, a Greek student set himself on fire in Genoa in protest against the junta. Also in 1973, but in February, a group of students occupied the Law Faculty in Athens and the protest ended with the violent intervention of the police.
On 14 November, the students of the Athens Polytechnic decided to go on strike. They occupied the faculty and improvised a radio station, using the university's equipment. The message broadcast for hours throughout the capital said: 'Here is the Polytechnic! Greek people, the Polytechnic is the flag of your suffering and our suffering against dictatorship and for democracy". In a short time, thousands of people gathered around the Polytechnic. After three days, on 17 November, the junta sent a tank, which opened the doors of the Polytechnic by crashing them and driving over them at 3am. The government declared martial law and a curfew, turned off the lighting throughout the city and the military stormed into the Polytechnic. A night of clashes and violence followed, inside and outside the university premises.
Twenty-four people were killed, all among the protesters outside the building, none among the students inside. Among them was a five-year-old boy. After the fall of the military junta, a trial was held, which ended with the conviction of Dimitrios Ioannidis, a Greek military official, who was considered responsible for the massacre.
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