Anarchist Solidarity Demonstration at the Greek Consulate

San Francisco 09.26.03

Yesterday a group of about 25 Bay Area anarchists and anti-authoritarians held a protest at the Consulate General of Greece in San Francisco, and delivered a statement of solidarity with the Thessaloniki Seven, a group of political prisoners held since June 21, 2003. There have been various solidarity actions in Europe, please check thessaloniki imc for more information.

As the short march to the Consulate got underway, the police arrived quickly, responding with 5 squad cars and 9-10 officers on the scene. Protestors were able to make their way inside the reception area of the Consulate to deliver a letter of solidarity, which they read. A while after the letter was read, the protestors left the reception area of the consulate and took their protest outside.

Once outside, police officers told protestors they could not protest on the sidewalk because they were blocking it, although no pedestrians were nearby. Protestors argued that the sidewalk was public property and that they could hold their protest there, while the police argued that because the consulate was a residence, they could not. Instead of risking arrest, the protestors decided to leave after a few minutes.
During protests this summer against the European Union (EU) summit in Thessaloniki, Greece- over two-dozen people were arrested, seven of whom are still being held (Thessaloniki Seven). Originally, there were eight prisoners. However, an American, Jonathan “Slug” Crowell of Vermont, was deported and has to return to Greece to face a trial. All eight of them are charged with following: possession of explosives, resisting authority, and rioting.

Of the seven still imprisoned in Greece, three are Greeks, two are Spaniards, one is Syrian, and one is British. Not much is known about the Greek prisoners, two of them were moved to a detention facility for minors (Avlona) notorious for “suicides,” and Tsitsas is in Diavata prison along with the other four political prisoners. The seven prisoners are subject to beatings, harsh treatment, torture, and threats of rape at the hands of police and prison guards.

The two Spaniards held in Diavata prison are- Fernando Perez Gorraiz from the Basque region and Carlos Martin a CNT militant. The Greek press accuses Fernando Gorraiz of being an international terrorist and there is word that the courts will apply a new anti-terrorism law to his case. Carlos Martin will start a hunger strike on October 5, 2003.

Also held in Diavata prison are Syrian political refugee Souleiman Dadouk “Kastro,” and UK activist Simon Chapman. Souleiman Dadouk faces deportation to Syria and a likely death upon his return. In protest, Souleiman has been on a hunger strike since September 21.
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The Greek consulate is located at:
2441 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
you can reach them at:
Tel: 415.775.2102, Fax: 415.776.6815
E-mail: sfgr [at] greekembassy.org