But from the photos you posted, it does look exactly as if a co-ordinated group of protestors are attacking the police. i am very sure it was a largely peaceful protest, but are you denying the front-line of people who obviously came kitted in attacking gear (stout wooden sticks, helmets)? Do you not think that being attacked in this way might have caused a reaction in the police? They are obviously terribly over reacting, and I hope they get prosecuted for it. And I am very sorry for anyone injured or scared in these events but if you want to stop violence, maybe look to your own side too? In the UK this never happens at a peace protest,for example, but does happen on May Day, where there are similarly angry and aggressive people at the front of the marches.

A few thousand of students are inside the Polytechnic University, in centre Athens, which is surrounded by strong police forces. The students decided to march to the central police station of Athens where 42 students are held by the police and demand to be set free. This new demo will start shortly.

More photos of the demonstration and the clashes:
 http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=521280
 http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=521349
 http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=521363
 http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=521371
 http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=521390

The students wanted to approach the ministry of Education and talk to the minister. When the police blocked the route of the demonstration and refused to let the demonstrators continue. Some demonstrators tried to go through and the police reaction can be read in my first post. Follow the links and see the new photos. Does it seem that these students were ready to clash with the police? Some of them have never been in a demo before. But those who know the way the police behave were prepared, having tear gas masks etc.
I must say again, the police did not just attack the violent block. Their intention was not to breakup this block but demonstration in whole. For many hours they kept haunting and attacking peaceful groups and individuals around the city centre. Students had to run inside buildings and stores to save themselves and the police threw teargas in closed places like arcades, where innocent people were (even mothers with their babys, imagine that).

yes, it's very easy for me to sit here and think about the pointlessness of violence on any side, but the photos you published (smiling policemen, doomed attacking 'anarchists') made me wonder why on earth everyone isn't dressed in white and sitting down. the situation sounds horrible. thank you for being there to witness it and taking the time to reply. and take care of yourself.

It's easy to sit behind a pc and criticize a situation you neither have any idea about nor know the historical context. The relationship between cops and citizens in Greece did not start yestarday. Some decades ago, the cops were first shooting and then asking. But this is a big story... Now, regarding the pseudodilemma between violence-no violence the only thing I have to say is that certain situations reach unavoidably the point of rupture. You don't know the greek pigs(riot cops), so I would advise you first to ask and then to criticise, you peaceful computer users. At the end of the day what have you achieved in England all these years with the peaceful tactics you adopt? Here, people don't want this law which is (supposedly)made for them and they will win as they have also done in the past. In France , they also won a few months ago. We don't like violence but if they attack you you will fight and you will not sit down like yous in london...Don't you have any sense of solidatity apart from the english -style emotionless criticism? Shame on you!

"Some demonstrators tried to go through and the police reaction can be read in my first post. Does it seem that these students were ready to clash with the police?"

Er, yes.

"Some of them have never been in a demo before".

Er, so?

"But those who know the way the police behave were prepared, having tear gas masks etc."

And, in the case of some, stout wooden sticks.

My reaction is not emotionless, no. The reports and sights of this violence are sickening and upsetting. But if the police started off by attacking a crowd of entirely peaceful demonstrators, then this should be made clear. If the police started attacking students who were trying to push through their lines, like the Wombles, this should be made clear. If the students were acting in the defence of the occupied universities, then this should be made clear.

In fact, even the photos you published seem to show that the police were attacked by a group of people at the front of the march. The police, doubtless to the delight of the authorities, then had the impetus to counter-attack, at which point the photos seem to show the flag waving baton wielding masked people running away, leaving the police to rampage through the city, with the results we have all seen.

I agree that in many countries the police need to excuse at all to tear gas and attack peaceful protestors. And it is a crime, as is the Greek police's current behaviour..But are you trying to stop the violence, or are you just trying to "win"?

Why don't you see the everyday violence we live in and is being exercised on the masses throughout the world with the neoliberal state politics. Yes, we burn banks, cops and all the symbols of the domination. It's natural. That's what we do here. This law is made for us but we don't want it and we will win. It's a war as it always has been and on every level. Now, with Blair's IDs, I wanna see you what you will do, liberal hipies. Are you not tired of the repression there? Don't you feel that you are in a prison? Do you like living like that? Why are you so pathetic? What have you achieved with the hippie dances in situations of REAL struggle? Are you alive? If you are, then dont necessarily do what they tell you, because that's what you always do. Thank you.

'Cops' are not a symbol of domination, they are real people. Saying that you will burn them makes you as bad as the worst cop. You ask what we've achieved in England. At least we have less hate and fury, though more grief and sadness and disaster, it is true. What have you achieved with your violence apart from fear, destruction, the teargassing of mothers and children, and the chance to work off your aggression? You are lucky no-one got killed (but secretly you would probably have liked that to happen, as it would make the 'other side' look worse than you.) It is tragic, when people in Iraq are really suffering and dying, that you divert your energies in this way. In fact, with your outdated "hippy liberal scum" abuse, you could get a job with the authorities yourself, now I come to think about it. Some policemen would definitely agree with you on that one.

We resist and we don't bend over , that's what we have learned. With regard to what we have achieved, you should first ask and then condemn. Are the Ids expensive? You should protest for that. And you know...with ballons, pink picketlines etc. If after a year or two, you are all with an unwanted ID dont ask why. The laws stop at the barricades and if you ask around you will see that this is true. Not only in small greece but almost everywhere in the world except of course in England. "Pigs guard your bosses" we shout here and also "the good cop is the bad cop". Until 1974 there was dictatorship and before that civil war. The cops have killed, abused and tortured thousands for their political beliefs or because they were different and we have you here criticizing situations you have no idea about, whatsoever. Shame on you.
Finally, with regard to the educational law all the fuss is about, the government (today)decided not to put it in force now but to discuss it again and to decide in October due to the public pressure (80-90% of the unis are occupied). But what do you know from collective struggles up there in England? What have you achieved? Yes, a nice car, a blonde slut and 10 days vacation in Spain. Piss off.