A-Infos (en) US, San Francisco: Anarchist Solidarity Demonstration at the Greek Consulate

[Worker <a-infos-en@ainfos.ca>]

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Yesterday [25-9-03] a group of about 25 Bay Area anarchists and
anti-authoritarians held a protest at the Consulate General of
Greece in San Francisco, and delivered a statement of solidarity
with the Thessaloniki Seven, a group of political prisoners held
since June 21, 2003. There have been various solidarity actions in
Europe, please check thessaloniki imc for more information.
As the short march to the Consulate got underway, the police
arrived quickly, responding with 5 squad cars and 9-10 officers on
the scene. Protestors were able to make their way inside the
reception area of the Consulate to deliver a letter of solidarity,
which they read. A while after the letter was read, the protestors
left the reception area of the consulate and took their protest
outside.

Once outside, police officers told protestors they could not
protest on the sidewalk because they were blocking it, although
no pedestrians were nearby. Protestors argued that the sidewalk
was public property and that they could hold their protest there,
while the police argued that because the consulate was a
residence, they could not. Instead of risking arrest, the protestors
decided to leave after a few minutes.

During protests this summer against the European Union (EU)
summit in Thessaloniki, Greece- over two-dozen people were
arrested, seven of whom are still being held (Thessaloniki Seven).
Originally, there were eight prisoners. However, an American,
Jonathan “Slug” Crowell of Vermont, was deported and
has to return to Greece to face a trial. All eight of them are
charged with following: possession of explosives, resisting
authority, and rioting.

Of the seven still imprisoned in Greece, three are Greeks, two are
Spaniards, one is Syrian, and one is British. Not much is known
about the Greek prisoners, two of them were moved to a detention
facility for minors (Avlona) notorious for “suicides,” and
Tsitsas is in Diavata prison along with the other four political
prisoners. The seven prisoners are subject to beatings, harsh
treatment, torture, and threats of rape at the hands of police and
prison guards.

The two Spaniards held in Diavata prison are- Fernando Perez
Gorraiz from the Basque region and Carlos Martin a CNT militant.
The Greek press accuses Fernando Gorraiz of being an
international terrorist and there is word that the courts will apply a
new anti-terrorism law to his case. Carlos Martin will start a
hunger strike on October 5, 2003.

Also held in Diavata prison are Syrian political refugee Souleiman
Dadouk “Kastro,” and UK activist Simon Chapman.
Souleiman Dadouk faces deportation to Syria and a likely death
upon his return. In protest, Souleiman has been on a hunger strike
since September 21.

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The Greek consulate is located at:
2441 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
you can reach them at:
Tel: 415.775.2102, Fax: 415.776.6815
E-mail: sfgr@greekembassy.org


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