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When Anarchists Attack: Salonika 2003
by CwC Rioter's Bloc 03:32am, Sunday June 22 2003
(Modified 08:24am, Thursday June 26 2003) |
A personal account of tghe protests with a few brief comments about the tactics of the anarchist Bloc
I'll make this brief since I just managed to escape back to the squatted University past far too many undercover cops. First, the day started late, and there were orignally two separate Blocs - The Anti-Authoritarian Movement Salonika and the "Black Bloc". The Anti-Authoritarian Movement Salonika joined the front of the main demonstration and maintained a good deal of cohesion, but the Bloc was not as big as the the Black Bloc - I'd guess about 4000 total though. Overall, both marches were very huge and exceedingly well-equipped. While the Anti-Authoritarian Movement attempted a break-away march from the main demonstration, they were blocked at an intersection by cops and manuevered down side-streets, where it joined with the Black Bloc (which left a bit later and was so at the end of the march). The two blocs merged and the gates of hell opened - suddenly the street was transformed into a warzone against global capitalism.
Stores like McDonalds and Vodafone were torched, although most small businesses seemed to be left alone. In fact, one courageous store-owner stayed with his store and gave free
food to the anarchists, while the corporate chain-stores which had closed in fear got molotov-cocktails through the windows. Some stores tried to protect themselves by covering
their windows in steel bars but enterprising anarchists armed with crowbars and hammers made short work of these futile attempts to escape. Fuck, one over-eager Greek even hit the back of my pants with a molotov cocktail as I was destroying the window of a store! However, the cops soon managed a counter-attack, and with large amounts of exceedingly harsh tear-gas did drive people back, but the anarchists fought bravely against a much more well-equipped enemy. Several cops were injured, but they did make some arrests. These battles continued for a bit, and the anarchist contigent moved into a large square, where
the police began to surround everyone from all sides. At this point, carried away from the chaos of the property destruction, the anarchists lost their ability to co-ordinate and stick together and as the tear-gas fell harder and the cops did more charges, people were quickly split into small groups and broken apart. Often stranded, folks started to make their way back to the squatted Aristotle University, where they were confronted by large amounts of police, including many undercovers. Within only a few blocks I was searched three times, and kicked in the shins just for having a gas mask - which the pigs stepped on and crushed just to remind me of my unwanted presence. However, eventually people have all managed to make it back to the University, and now it looks like folks are going to organize a solidarity march for the sixty to hundred arrests of the day.
From an outsiders perspective, I have a few brief comments. First, the Greek anarchists have a great fighting spirit and come well-prepared - the rest of the anarchist community should be proud of their militancy and bravery. Also, there seemed to be some conflict earlier between the Anti-Authoritarian Movement Salonika and the more traditional Black Bloc about whether selected targets should be hit or just general destruction. The Anti-Authoritarian Movement argued that targets like the central police station (!!) should be attacked, and tried to place an emphasis on order and staying a single strongBloc. While in the end everyone united and fought the fucking pigs on the same side,I think folks should have thought a bit more about what was going on around them and staying together than just attacking capital- which is also a pleasure, I admit! This lack of co-ordination and having a tight Bloc led to the Bloc being split and crushed far too early. Remember, fight hard and fight smart! However, there's always next time! Bravo for the passion!
Live from the Front,
and the Front is Everywhere....
CrimethInc Foreign Correspondent John Walkerwww.crimethinc.net
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| 12361 |
well bravo
by clopist 08:24am, Thursday June 26 2003 |
well bravo to you too for a really good summary of the facts and for telling the truth about what really happend
viva black block
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