An anti-Roma pogrom in Athens, a short note and a timeline of the pogrom
A short note:
Welcome to Athens: For the last three days, a pogrom against Roma communities at the eastern district of Menidi is taking place. It started after the accidental death of an 11 years old pupil by a stray bullet. It is not clear who was responsible for the death. The Roma people in general were blamed immediately and automatically. The attacks started, attempting to drive them out from an area that they have lived in for more than 60 years
The current situation points to the fact that this society is increasingly showing a fascist face. The current pogrom also renders obvious the limitations of the antifascist and anti-racist movement in Greece and elsewhere. The pogrom is actually happening in total absence of anyone who calls themselves left, anarchist or even communist. While the left is celebrating the “victory” of identity politics with its destructive consequences, at the same time a national-socialistic imaginary of the greek national community is again rising. The fact of a total lack of a critique and strategy of a communist antagonistic scene is to blame here.
Menidi district is not an exception in greek reality. Anti-Roma attacks and pogroms have been taking place all over the country the past decades. Anti-tsiganism, alongside antisemitism remains an essential part of the ideological structures of the greek capitalist state and the greek national community.
Below, we are presenting a short time line of the racist events of the previous 4 days. This is the least we can do
Saturday June 10th: Menidi Athens. An anti-Roma rasist demonstration held for the accidental death of an 11-year-old pupil by a stray bullet, durring a school end celebration. An angry racist mob, aproximately 1500 participants, threw Molotov cocktails in front door of the house of a Roma family, which one of the members is suspected to be the perpetrator of the murder. The riot was the signal for a generalized pogrom against the Roma living in the area.
Sunday June 11th: Greek riot police on Sunday starts a class with an angry racist mob in Menidi (Eastern Athens district), who tried to attack a Roma community area, after the accidental death of an 11-year-old boy by a stray bullet durring a school end celebration.
During the rally, a mob broke off from the protesters and threw firebombs at the community, causing damages to two homes. Police responded with tear gas, causing a clash with protesters. One of the Roma homes according to photos we have collected by mass media was totally destroyed.
The group clashed with riot police and set fire to the two houses and to street dumpsters. Meanwhile,Trainose, the country’s rail service operator, said that rocks were thrown at a train as it passed through Menidi, on its way from Halkida to Athens. No damages or injuries were reported.
Monday June 12th: A protest march against Roma communities in the area of Menidi, turned once again violent in the night after the racist mob threw petrol bombs and stones against riot police at the train station, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades. Around 10.30 the mob passed the train lines of suburban railway and approached the point where Roma houses are located. Luckily they didnt succeed to vandalize the houses.
And a night view
Tuesday June 13th: Angry Menidi residents gathered outside the Citizen Protection Ministry on Tuesday evening.
Read also:
https://theshadesmag.wordpress.com/2017/06/12/athens-an-anti-roma-pogrom-continues-for-a-second-day/
Shades online 
Reblogged this on Der Paria.
LikeLike