October 30, 2023

Greek Tragedies and Triumphs [2023]

Thousands Attend Vio.Me.’s Celebration of 10 Years of Factory Occupation in Greece

We start with triumphs! The self-managed and worker-occupied Vio.Me. factory in Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, celebrated ten years of worker occupation. The factory was buzzing with life on April 28, 29, and 30, from the afternoon hours until late at night with thousands of people and many popular musicians coming out to support the workers’ struggle.

“We just provided the spark, you are the gasoline that will set the universe on fire!”

These festivities come as the factory is under renewed threats with the land where the factory sits being quietly sold.

May 2023

‘Don’t Let Them Kill Vio.Me.’ Decade-Long Greek Factory Occupation Threatened

As mentioned, the occupied factory came under renewed threat earlier this year. The land on which the factory stands was sold at an online auction to a South African businessman. During a large solidarity march in Thessaloniki on February 11, Makis Anagnostou, one of the original workers of the occupation, told Unicorn Riot that the workers have “declared” they “will not leave the place unless [they] are tied up or lying down.”

March 2023

A Decade After the Murder of Antifascist Rapper Pavlos “Killah P” Fyssas, the Battle Against Fascism Remains Urgent in Greece

Our latest story from Greece features triumph in the face of tragedy as the family and friends of Pavlos Killah P Fyssas marched in commemoration of his life ten years after he was murdered by a Golden Dawn member.

Despite their leaders being convicted in the largest Nazi trial since Nuremberg and the Golden Dawn structures being dismantled, far-right and neo-Nazi elements continue to gain political power in Greece.

October 2023

Prisoners in Greece: Hunger Strike as a Weapon

In another story of Greek triumph in the face of tragic circumstances, we examined how people incarcerated in Greek prisons have waged numerous hunger strikes in prisons across the country over the last three years — many of which have been successful.

January 2023

‘It was a crime, not an accident!’ – Deadly Greek Train Crash Sparks Justice Movement

One of the most deadly train collisions in a decade in the EU leaves 57 people dead and sparks a justice movement all over Greece.

“Everything shows that the tragedy is unfortunately mainly due to a tragic human error.”

This article examines the responses to the train crash by the company, the government, the media, and the community.

April 2023

Greek Seas: Europe’s Largest Migrant Cemetery - Pylos Shipwreck

‘Fortress Europe’ is killing thousands of people seeking asylum

This summer one of the deadliest shipwrecks in recent history occurred off the Greek coast near Pylos. The Adrianna, a boat carrying upwards of 750 migrants traveling from Northern Africa, capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, leaving nearly 500 dead. We look at how government policies helped create this tragedy feature video of the movement for justice that followed the shipwreck.

July 2023

Travels of Hate: An American Far-Right Extremist in Greece

Connected to far-right extremist groups Propatria and Golden Dawn, American extremist Robert Rundo visited Greece at least twice.

Robert Rundo, an American neo-Nazi gang member who was on the run from American law enforcement for several years after being accused of carrying out a series of acts of political violence was hiding in various Balkan countries, including Greece, under false identities. This report looks at Rundo’s little known travels networking with racist groups in Greece.

July 2023

Neo-Nazi Group Golden Dawn Makes Resurgence in Greece

The reappearance of Golden Dawn – focusing on Northern Greece this time.

Following the largest Nazi trial since Nuremberg, Golden Dawn members were convicted of being a part of, and running, a criminal organization. After many years in hiding, the far-right, neo-Nazi organization of Golden Dawn (GD) made its public reappearance and organized a march and rally in Florina, Northern Greece.

January 2023