On this day in 2008, the worst Greek riots in decades began after Alexandros Grigoropoulos, a 15-year-old student, was killed by police in central Athens.
The killing of the young student resulted in large protests within an hour of the shooting, which later escalated to widespread rioting, with numerous participants damaging property and engaging riot police with Molotov cocktails. The demonstrations and rioting soon spread to several other cities and lasted for several weeks, into January of 2009.
The protests went beyond the scope of just police brutality - on December 10th, the General Confederation of Greek Workers (ΓΣΕΕ) and the Civil Servants’ Confederation (ΑΔΕΔΥ), together representing 2.5 million people, half of the total Greek workforce, called a one-day general strike in opposition to the government’s economic policies.
While the unrest was triggered by the shooting incident, commentators described the reactions as expressing deeper causes as well, especially a widespread feeling of frustration in the younger generation about specific economic problems of the country (partly as a result of the global economic crisis), a rising unemployment rate among the young generation and a perception of general inefficiency and corruption in Greek state institutions.
this event would give rise to the Anti-austerity movement in Greece in 2010
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Didn’t know Greece did a general strike, more based than I thought. :sabo:
How far do you think the U.S. is away from a general strike? We’re already seeing the atomized version of it right now, I would guess a couple years before an official one with 25% participation.
the US only has two things going for it when it comes to a general strike:
a) very good employment level
b) left-wing momentum
unfortunately you need to have pretty good organizing to be able to pull a general strike. it’s a massive undertaking. Brazil’s left/labour is a lot more robust than their American counterpart and they are still quite a ways off being able to pull a general strike.
Overall, the Greeks might be the most based of the Europeans. I will always remember this anecdote:
The discussion finally gets around to a Greek anarchist group. The Greeks are internationally known for being especially militant (and awesome). Their spokesman addresses the assembly and says simply, “We will make total destroy.” Everyone looks incredulous and confused. The Greek spokesman, fearing he has miscommunicated, excuses himself to confer with his group. He speaks with them in hurried Greek, and the rest of the assembly seems relieved that there will be further explanation. After the short clarification, the spokesman turns to the room again and says, “Yes, we will make total destroy.”
Also “Make, Total, Destroy” is the title of this Pat the Bunny song
Greece has had like 6 general strikes since this one, all have paralysed the economy, i think the US still need like a 3 more years of Economic crisis before we see one
Greece has had like 6 general strikes since this one, all have paralysed the economy
so why does nothing change there?
