Violence Marks Greek Strike
- 14 years ago
Violence marred a day of strikes in Greece as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Athens to protest wage freezes and tax increases.
Riot police wielding shields and batons patrolled the demonstrations in Syndagma Square, and were attacked by protestors throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails.
Many rioters carried red flags on wooden sticks, and used these to beat back at the police.
Tear gas was also used by police to subdue students who they say tried to storm the University building.
The strike was called by public and private unions across the country, and shut down public transportation, hospitals, schools, airports and government offices.
Hotel worker Kostas Alexandridis supported the strike and said it was the government's actions that led to this point.
[Kostas Alexandridis, Hotel worker]:
"These measures were going to be implemented by the government and the European Union anyway, and they are loading them on us now with the excuse of the crisis. The crisis has been created by the plutocrats and they should pay for it."
An estimated 20,000 people took part in the 24-hour strike to protest the Greek government's austerity plans as it tries to pull the country from a massive economic crisis.
Riot police wielding shields and batons patrolled the demonstrations in Syndagma Square, and were attacked by protestors throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails.
Many rioters carried red flags on wooden sticks, and used these to beat back at the police.
Tear gas was also used by police to subdue students who they say tried to storm the University building.
The strike was called by public and private unions across the country, and shut down public transportation, hospitals, schools, airports and government offices.
Hotel worker Kostas Alexandridis supported the strike and said it was the government's actions that led to this point.
[Kostas Alexandridis, Hotel worker]:
"These measures were going to be implemented by the government and the European Union anyway, and they are loading them on us now with the excuse of the crisis. The crisis has been created by the plutocrats and they should pay for it."
An estimated 20,000 people took part in the 24-hour strike to protest the Greek government's austerity plans as it tries to pull the country from a massive economic crisis.