Add new comment

Update on the Anarchist Intervention at Athens Municipal Radio

from anarchists worldwide

On Tuesday, 1st of October, a counter-information intervention took place at the municipal radio “Athens 9.84”. The intervention was organised by the open assembly of squats, collectives, immigrants, internationalists, and solidarians with the participation of 30 comrades.

The comrades entered the studio after coming into agreement with the employees, and the intervention lasted half an hour. While on air, the intervention made a speech about the squats, immigrants, and the general oppressive and impoverished conditions that prevail. Next, a recorded message which ridicules the regime of terror they are imposing, was broadcast. To set the record straight, we have to inform that during the intervention there was no conflict with the employees of the radio station. Whoever listened to the intervention on air understood what was the mood, and we expect from the employees to weigh in against the fabrications of the Greek Police and the Mayor of Athens. As expected, the intervention was removed from the archive that gets uploaded on the radio’s website, in an attempt to conceal the political content of the intervention and its characteristics.

After the intervention, the comrades left in array towards Kerameikos tube station where they were attacked by police forces that scattered the body of the intervention through force and violence. Afterwards, 8 arrests took place in the nearby area. 7 female and 1 male comrades got apprehended, 2 students among them. One of them got sexually harassed by a cop in the police vehicle. Consequently, the arrested got transferred to the Hellenic Police Attica Headquarters. There was a solidarity gathering until midnight. The riot police attacked the gathering with chemicals, and pushed the comrades back to the Ampelokipi tube station. The gathering continued across the HPAH, regardless. After many hours it was announced that 7 of the apprehended are facing the charges of domestic disturbance, whereas one of the students got released without any charges. The charges were pressed after the administration of the municipal radio, obviously with the orders of mayor Mpakogiannis, sued the comrades. It is important to note that during the solidarity gathering, persons from the establishment media and a parliamentary party were present, with whom neither the intervention nor the solidarity gathering had anything to do with them.

On Wednesday, 2nd of October, at 11am, the arrested went through the District Attorney, building 16, at the Evelpidon courthouse. We called for a solidarity gathering where approximately 30 comrades showed up. 6 of the comrades got a trial for 17/10, whereas the student comrade has a trial for 2020.

Solidarity will win, the censorship attempts towards the oppressed will not be successful, our struggles will destroy state oppression.

The text that got read during the intervention:

“Athens do you hear me? I am sorry to disturb your miserable daily life. I am sorry to steal some of the time you have already sold. I am sorry to make you think whatever you don’t want to confront. But today I have a voice and you will listen to me. I am the voice of the oppressed. I am the voice they will not allow to be heard. I am the voice of humans who got eradicated from their neighbourhoods because of profiteering. I am the voice of the refugees that lost their friends and still don’t know why. I am the voice of burnt forests which got sacrificed on the altar of profit. I am the voice of all those who fought when everything seemed futile. I am the voice of future generations that will inherit dystopia. And you, who are listening to me, certainly understand me. You understand what is oppression. You understand what it means to work only for survival. You understand what it means to leave your home because rent is greater than your wage. You understand what it means to kill your dreams slowly and painfully. But you will ask me why I am saying these things to you. You will say that this is the situation and well, what can we do about it. And I will reply. I will tell you that everything you experience is caused by humans. I will tell you that your depression has no reason to exist. I will tell you that together, we achieved a lot in the past. I will tell you that your life is precious to waste it like that. I will tell you to fight in order to make your life worthy. Thank you for listening, good luck.”