The demo with around 650 participants marched through central streets end ended up in front of the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace where groups of demonstrators stayed until late, demanding that political asylum be given to Bahoz.
Bahoz is on hunger strike since 17/5 demanding for second time that he be given political asylum.
The anarchist block had an intense presence in the demonstration which was organized by the “Assembly of Solidarity with Bahoz” and which consisted of various leftist groups.
In Tsimiski str. Downtown there was an event in some luxurious shop. A TV cameraman outside aiming his camera at the demonstrators, some security cops and … tables with food and catering stuff for the opening of the shop. Anarchist demonstrators demanded that the cameraman left the scene, some people started taking food from the tables and causing damage to the scene. That incident was the reason for some left demonstrators to leave the demo, probably because they didn’t expected something like that to happen.
In front of the Ministry the anarchist block stayed there shouting insurrectionist and anarchist slogans, fully equipped with helmets, flags with large sticks etc., ready to confront any possible attack from some other part of the demonstration, especially from the group “Antiauthoritarian Movement”. Members of this group in the frame of “Assembly of Solidarity with Bahoz” were warning people from the anarchist movement all the previous days that if specific insurrectionist slogans were shouted in this demo, those who would shout them, would …. be smashed!! Actually, before the demonstration, a member of “Antiauthoritarian Movement” in furious anger was tearing leaflets of “Anarchist Students” which were being handed out. After a short engagement with the comrade, the member of “A.M.” returned threatening that the whole “A.M.” will f*** this individual 17 year old anarchist student!!!
But as mentioned before, the anarchist block stayed until the end of the demonstration equipped with helmets and sticks ready to confront any possible attack, showing once again that attempt of imposing censorship in demonstrations even by so-called “antiauthoritarians” will be confronted.
The hostility of members of “Antiauthoritarian Movement” the last weeks against anarchists is escalating, and so is the will of anarchists to self-protection and dignity.