One arrested and attempted burning of the German flag during the protests in Athens

Victoria Mindova
Tear gas, one person arrested, an attempted burning of the German flag and thousands of angry citizens is the outcome of the protest so far. The protest was organized by the union of private sector employees GSEE, the union of public sector employees ADEDY and the trade union of the Greek Communist Party PAME. They have announced a 24-hour strike again and neither the torrential rain, nor the cold wind has spoiled it. The bad weather did not stop thousands of angry Greeks to go back in the streets of Athens to protest against the cuts of salaries in the private sector and the dismissals the new austerity measures will bring as a condition of paying the second bailout to Greece.

Unlike other protests, this one cannot be called either apathetic, or spiritless. Public opinion does not accept that a 35% cut of wages will solve the problems of Greece. "Thieves, traitors, German servants" was heard from the angry mobs, which gathered down the Syntagma Square near the Ministry of Finance at 11 am. Then, they slowly began to move towards the building of Parliament. "People work a lifetime. Let the financial markets and politicians pay the bill this time," chanted the strikers.
Tensions during the protest rose to the extreme and riot forces used tear gas again to disperse the protesters. This time, ordinary people were as active as the boys in black, who support various anarchist or leftist organizations. On the stairs to the Parliament, a small group tried to set fire to the German flag, which was tied to the Nazi flag, but the rain played a trick on them. The fabrics failed to flare, but the symbolism was there.
Protesters and police stood face to face on the steps to the front entrance of the Parliament. Some shouted, "Papademos, resign!," others - "Stray cops! They guard the politicians and beat the people!" A minute later, the first bomb with tear gas exploded. People fled. There were separate voices calling for calmness. Then, the police captured one of the protesters, which stirred the spirits again. There was another gassing. Then, the rain began to rain harder and people scattered. Although the protest had been called off, many angry people remained under the shelters of surrounding buildings in the area or under the trees in the small garden on Syntagma Square. Members of anarchist organizations did not allow television cameras to approach while in skirmishes with police. Foreign media teams from around the world had hired rooms on higher floors turned to the Parliament to follow the protest away from the angry crowd and the tear gas.
It has become clear that this will not be the last mass protest. Active participants in the strike have promised new initiatives in Athens soon.