COMMUNIQUE OF THE ASSEMBLY

Their world stinks
as much as their tear-gas

From June 19th to 21st the summit of the European Union took place in Chalkidiki, Greece. While the echo of the war on Iraq was still raging the lords of Europe met in order to intensify their “counter-terrorist crusade” inside and outside Europe, to organise more effectively their scope of expansion and to fortify the borders and the authoritarian structure of the enlarged E.U.
At the same time, in Thessaloniki, various left and social-democrat political entities, using money donated by the Greek government - which they claim to oppose - organised a number of counter summits, camp sites, concerts, “joyful” demonstrations, proposing some kind of “alternative globalisation” without attacking the existing system. Those self-proclaimed spokes-men of the so-called “anti-globalisation movement” couldn’t fail to perform a limited violent confrontation with the police forces at Chalkidiki in order to project a “militant” image of themselves within the “movement”, that was born and has grown mainly out of the violent clashes with capitalism in Seattle, Prague, Gothenburg, Genoa, Evian and elsewhere.
Yet in contrast to the summit of European rulers as well as the reformists’ counter summits, in the occupied grounds of Aristotle University a large number of anarchists, anti-authoritarians and subversive individuals got together to show in action that the bosses of Europe were not only unwelcome but were also considered enemies, and to make a step from protesting to rioting, as has happened at all the previous rendezvous of the international ruling elite. During those days the university became a place full of life where events, assemblies, video projections and numerous other activities were held. Tuesday 6/19 saw a demo of about 4000 people, convoked by anarchist and anti-authoritarian collectives, in solidarity with the immigrants. Next day 250 anarchists/anti-authoritarians gathered at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Florina - where they were blocked by riot cops, border police and the army - in order to express their solidarity to 700 Roma refugees from Kosova denied entrance to the Greek territory - and to actively call into question the existence of borders. At the same time other anarchists/anti-authoritarians chose to go to Marmaras village so as to clash with the police forces blocking access to the place where the summit was to be held. On Saturday about 3000 people formed a black-block, which, autonomous and distinct from the other blocks, marched towards the city centre attacking capitalist symbols (banks, multinationals etc.) and clashing with the forces of repression.
In answer to those who were spoiling the party, police used large quantities of tear-gases and chemicals, as well as rubber bullets. They made scores of arrests and detentions using the old Greek method ‘after you are arrested you obtain a sack full of molotovs as a present by the police so that they can prove your being guilty’. On Sunday the cops savagely attacked demonstrators gathered in front of the court in solidarity with the arrested, causing injuries to many. At the present time 7 demonstrators are being held in prison just because they chose to be on the streets during those days.
Apart from the physical and mental abuse they got through (battering, sexual harassment by the cops etc.), the prisoners faced the smear campaign of the media talking about ‘vandals’ and ‘hooligans’ who deserve exemplary punishment. Unlike what happened a few days ago when the same media made reference to ‘militant demonstrations’ in Evian, this time they used mudslinging in order to deprive the outburst of resistance which flooded the streets of a fortified and police-ridden city, of any political or social content.
Those of us who met in Thessaloniki during these days of action take as given that our struggle is not restricted to ‘revolutionary three-days’. Our struggle continues until all the demonstrators held in prison are set free. Our struggle continues where we live, in the neighbourhoods, universities, work places until social liberation.
Solidarity to the demonstrators arrested in Thessaloniki on June 21.
Immediate release of the 7 arrested remanded in custody.
Open Assembly of Anarchists and Anti-authoritarians against the summit of the E.U. leaders and in solidarity to the demonstrators arrested in Thessaloniki (Athens)