On the morning of April 24, a group of anti authoritarians entered the main building of the University of Athens Rectorate (Propylaea) as an act of solidarity to counter-information media that have been recently gagged, after the decision of the rector of the National Technical University of Athens, Simos Simopoulos.
They placed a giant banner that reads, Raise your voice- Fight against state censorship- Athens.indymedia.org & Radio98fm.org, while a black and red flag was raised on the building, replacing the Greek national flag.
The vice-rector of the University of Athens, Thomas Sfikopoulos stated that the group of about 30 people were just chanting slogans and did not push the employees to leave their offices.
Strong riot police forces gathered outside the building. More than 30 protesters who participated were detained and transferred to the police headquarters. A total of 69 detainees were held there, who were gradually released. Six of the protesters were arrested and will be led to the prosecutor facing the charge of attack of symbols.
The University of Athens rector, Theodosis Pelegrinis stated that he did not call the police nor command them to intervene.
Government spokesman, Simos Kedikoglou pointed out: “The violent lowering of the Greek flag in the center of Athens offends the morale of all Greeks.” He continued: “This unacceptable action has to be convicted by the political world in its whole, even by the parties who avoided convicting such actions in the past.”
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