2021 Greek protests

On 4 February, university students and teachers took to the streets to protest against a proposed education reform bill that would allow for a renewed police presence on university campuses. 5,000 protestors demonstrated in Athens, while an additional 1,000 demonstrated in Thessaloniki. In defiance of the ban on public gatherings imposed by the lockdown, students organized weekly protests to continue against the new bill.

On 10 February, the date of a scheduled debate on the education reform bill, clashes broke out with the police in Athens and Thessaloniki, during which police used tear gas to disperse protests and protestors threw bottles, rocks and molotov cocktails back at the police.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/11/greek-students-at-the-barricades-in-dispute-over-education-bill|first=Helena|last=Smith|title=Greek students at the barricades in dispute over education bill|location=Athens|work=The Guardian|date=11 February 2021|access-date=14 March 2021|archive-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304213307/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/11/greek-students-at-the-barricades-in-dispute-over-education-bill|url-status=live}}

On 22 February, protestors occupied the principal's building in the University of Thessaloniki and, when police attempted to remove them, clashes broke out. This led to the arrest of 31 people and the issuing of €300 fines to 32 protestors, for violating the terms of the country's lockdown.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/world-news-thessaloniki-legislation-greece-e1605d54444d9de6f44a43d837c0b3c3|title=Dozens arrested in clashes over campus security law|date=22 February 2021|access-date=14 March 2021|publisher=Associated Press|location=Thessaloniki|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303134202/https://apnews.com/article/world-news-thessaloniki-legislation-greece-e1605d54444d9de6f44a43d837c0b3c3|url-status=live}} More than 5,000 people subsequently gathered outside a courthouse in Thessaloniki to protest in support of those arrested.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/thessaloniki-arrests-europe-coronavirus-pandemic-greece-59a5640697338c443ac84784af244e17|title=Thousands of students rally in Greece against new police law|date=23 February 2021|access-date=14 March 2021|publisher=Associated Press|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303132644/https://apnews.com/article/thessaloniki-arrests-europe-coronavirus-pandemic-greece-59a5640697338c443ac84784af244e17|url-status=live}}

On 23 February, people scattered leaflets outside the presidential mansion of Katerina Sakellaropoulou, to protest in support of Dimitris Koufontinas.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/greece-athens-hunger-strikes-345501630666322fb96a3d2eff5482d2|title=Supporters of jailed gunman target home of Greek president|date=23 February 2021|access-date=14 March 2021|publisher=Associated Press|location=Athens|archive-date=10 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510171540/https://apnews.com/article/greece-athens-hunger-strikes-345501630666322fb96a3d2eff5482d2|url-status=live}}

On 24 February, a Koufontinas solidarity demonstration in Athens was dispersed by police using tear gas, stun grenades and a water cannon.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/greece-guerrilla-protests-idUSL8N2KU51T|title=Greek police clash with supporters of jailed guerrilla assassin|date=24 February 2021|publisher=Reuters|location=Athens|access-date=14 March 2021|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225193254/https://www.reuters.com/article/greece-guerrilla-protests-idUSL8N2KU51T|url-status=live}}

On 1 March, the Greek government refused Koufontinas' demand of transfer to Korydallos Prison. By this point, Koufontinas' health had seriously deteriorated due to the effects of his hunger strike. Thousands of people held peaceful protests in Athens and Thessaloniki following the government's decision.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/embassies-greece-arson-hunger-strikes-6bfe5ed1029fb3d94b1135726d1d1467|title=Greek far-left hit man on hunger strike denied jail move|date=1 March 2021|access-date=14 March 2021|publisher=Associated Press|archive-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304055157/https://apnews.com/article/embassies-greece-arson-hunger-strikes-6bfe5ed1029fb3d94b1135726d1d1467|url-status=live}}

On 7 March, the Athens police reported that when a police patrol entered Nea Smyrni to investigate reports of lockdown violations, they were subsequently attacked by a group of 30 people, injuring 2 officers, leading to the detention of 11 people. However, videos of the event emerged, showing peaceful protestors being thrown to the ground by the police and attacked with batons. Four hours later, more than 500 people gathered to protest the incident and were violently dispersed using tear gas and stun grenades. Pavlos Christidis of the Movement for Change denounced the incident, claiming that “It wasn’t an accident. The government and Mitsotakis wanted this.”{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-athens-greece-europe-9bc7356cdcc0e3dd0f7671d044288092|title=Greek police, protesters clash in Athens suburb|first=Demetris|last=Nellas|location=Athens|publisher=Associated Press|date=7 March 2021|access-date=14 March 2021|archive-date=17 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317174335/https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-athens-greece-europe-9bc7356cdcc0e3dd0f7671d044288092|url-status=live}}

On 9 March, 5,000 people gathered outside the precinct in Nea Smyrni to protest against the police brutality, during which young protestors threw stones and molotov cocktails at the police. The police responded with water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades, but during the clashes, a police officer was severely injured by protestors. Testimonies and videos show cases of police brutality even against journalists.{{Cite web |title=Νέα Σμύρνη: Όλα τα βίντεο με τα περιστατικά αστυνομικής βίας |url=https://www.news247.gr/koinonia/nea-smyrni-ola-ta-vinteo-me-ta-peristatika-astynomikis-vias.9167097.html |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=www.news247.gr |date=10 March 2021 |language=el}} Among the videos published there exists one in which a police officer appears to throw a molotov cocktail to the protestors.{{Cite web |last=Καμήλαλης |first=Θάνος |date=2021-03-12 |title=Σοβαρά ερωτήματα από βίντεο αστυνομικού να πετάει μολότοφ |url=https://thepressproject.gr/sovara-erotimata-apo-vinteo-astynomikou-na-petaei-molotof/ |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=The Press Project - Ειδήσεις, Αναλύσεις, Ραδιόφωνο, Τηλεόραση |language=el}} Another video shows police officers shouting among them "Let's go kill them!" (the protestors).{{Cite web |last=tvxs.gr |date=2021-03-10 |title=Τα ντοκουμέντα της αστυνομικής μανίας στη Νέα Σμύρνη: «Πάμε να τους σκοτώσουμε! Θα τους γα@@@ουμε!» [Όλα τα Βίντεο] |url=https://tvxs.gr/news/ellada/astynomiki-mania-sti-nea-smyrni-pame-na-toys-skotosoyme-binteo |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=TVXS - TV Χωρίς Σύνορα |language=el}} In total, 10 people were arrested on suspicion of participating in the riots, and some of them allegedly tortured.{{Cite web |title="Μου είπαν "θα βιάσουμε μέχρι και το κουτάβι σου"" |url=https://www.efsyn.gr/politiki/synenteyxeis/285714_moy-eipan-tha-biasoyme-mehri-kai-koytabi-soy |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=Η Εφημερίδα των Συντακτών |date=16 March 2021 |language=el-GR}} The riots were condemned by both the government and opposition parties.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/athens-violence-coronavirus-pandemic-greece-4342353cfa4de9d128f46bd800c37c21|title=Youths protesting police violence attack Athens precinct|date=9 March 2021|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=14 March 2021|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310090529/https://apnews.com/article/athens-violence-coronavirus-pandemic-greece-4342353cfa4de9d128f46bd800c37c21|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/9/greek-police-officers-in-hospital-amid-clashes-in-athens|title=Street battles in Greece after march against police violence|date=9 March 2021|access-date=14 March 2021|work=Al Jazeera|archive-date=14 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314124941/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/9/greek-police-officers-in-hospital-amid-clashes-in-athens|url-status=live}} The prime minister gave a televised address in response, during which he said: “Blind rage does not lead anywhere. It should serve as a wake-up call that the life of a young policeman was endangered. At this point everyone must display restraint and calm.”{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/10/greek-pm-appeals-for-peace-after-police-brutality-ignites-riots|title=Greek PM appeals for peace after police brutality ignites riots|first=Helena|last=Smith|work=The Guardian|location=Athens|date=10 March 2021|access-date=14 March 2021|archive-date=14 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314134608/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/10/greek-pm-appeals-for-peace-after-police-brutality-ignites-riots|url-status=live}}

On 11 March, after the occupation at the University of Thessaloniki was ended by police, 8,000 people protested against the police crackdown. Protestors clashed with the police, during which firebombs and tear gas were exchanged, and multiple people were arrested.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/thessaloniki-greece-f15d0d0d303c620f4b2d68d5b22eacd6|title=Greek protesters attack police with firebombs at rally|date=11 March 2021|access-date=14 March 2021|publisher=Associated Press|archive-date=15 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315233753/https://apnews.com/article/thessaloniki-greece-f15d0d0d303c620f4b2d68d5b22eacd6|url-status=live}}

On 14 March, Dimitris Koufontinas ended his hunger strike after 66 days, as it had led to kidney failure. He thanked those that had protested in solidarity with him in his “fight against an inhumane power system.”{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/greece-europe-hunger-strikes-f65b080daa207b23fa36d3bdcd0aa156|title=Jailed terrorist Koufodinas ends hunger strike after 66 days|date=14 March 2021|access-date=14 March 2021|publisher=Associated Press|archive-date=16 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316043107/https://apnews.com/article/greece-europe-hunger-strikes-f65b080daa207b23fa36d3bdcd0aa156|url-status=live}}

• 2008 Greek riots
• Anti-austerity movement in Greece
• Athens Polytechnic uprising
• Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

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Category:2021 in Greece

Category:2021 protests

Category:2021 riots

Category:Protests in Greece

Category:Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

Category:Riots and civil disorder in Greece

Category:February 2021 in Greece

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