Hundreds of demonstrators defied a ban on demonstrations and gathered on two separate locations in central Athens on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the Polytechnic student uprising.
Despite warnings that the rallies would be unlawful as the country tries to stem the spread of the coronavirus, around 200 people belonging to the Communist Party gathered outside the US Embassy where, led by the leader of the party, they unfurled banners and shouted anti-American slogans.
Later another crowd gathered on Panepistimiou Avenue, several miles away. Police responded by throwing tear gas to disperse the crowd.
People manage to break police blockage and protest with safe distancing. #Greece #Πολυτεχνείο pic.twitter.com/YaySQpa9Aa
— Savvas Karmaniolas (@savvaskarma) November 17, 2020
Among the demonstrators defying the ban on demonstrations was former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, who led a small procession of his Mera25 party, towards the US Embassy.
The protest was stopped by the police, forcing Varoufakis and his entourage to stage a sit-down protest on the street.
Εκεί που αρχίζει η Πρεσβεία τελειώνει η Δημοκρατία.#Πολυτεχνειο #17Νοεμβρη #Live #ΜεΡΑ25 pic.twitter.com/wJdhOTTPnw
— ΜέΡΑ25 (@mera25_gr) November 17, 2020
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