The news in Greek

Στην Αθήνα, υπήρξαν διαδηλώσεις για τον Αλέξανδρο Γρηγορόπουλο. Οι φοιτητές διαδήλωσαν ειρηνικά , αλλά το βράδυ ξέσπασαν βίαια επεισόδια στην περιοχή όπου σκοτώθηκε το 2008. Η αστυνομία χρησιμοποίησε χημικά και έκανε συλλήψεις . Τα επεισόδια έληξαν με επιτήρηση από ελικόπτερο και αύξηση της αστυνόμευσης στην πόλη.

Translation

In Athens, there have been demonstrations in memory of Alexandros Grigoropoulos. The students protested peacefully, but in the evening, violent incidents erupted in the area where he was killed in 2008. The police used tear gas and made arrests. The incidents ended with helicopter surveillance and increased policing in the city.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: Who were the protests in Athens for?

The protests were for Alexandros Grigoropoulos.

Question 2: What did the police use to deal with the violent incidents?

The police used chemicals and made arrests.

Exercise: Vocabulary

(f.) - demonstration

- peacefully

- break out

- violently

(n.) - chemicals

(f.) - arrests

Read the full story

▌07/12/2024

Tensions escalated in Athens late on Friday as a large-scale protest, commemorating the 16th anniversary of the fatal shooting of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, turned violent. Initially, the day was marked by peaceful student-led demonstrations, but as evening fell, disturbances broke out in the neighbourhood of Exarchia, the site where the teenager was tragically killed in 2008.

Approximately 4,000 protestors took to the streets with banners reading "The uprisings of the past illuminate today's struggles" and "We have not yet said our last word; these days belong to Alexis." These words resonated as groups gathered at Propylaia and marched towards Exarchia, where Grigoropoulos was fatally shot by a police officer.

However, what began as a peaceful show of remembrance quickly descended into chaos. As demonstrators approached the intersection of Tzavella and Mesolongiou Streets, clashes with police ensued. Groups of masked individuals set fire to rubbish bins and hurled Molotov cocktails and stones at law enforcement officers, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowds.

Clashes Erupt During Greek Memorial Protest Clashes Erupt During Greek Memorial Protest (Illustration)

The atmosphere in Exarchia turned tense and suffocating due to the heavy use of chemicals. The police reported numerous preemptive arrests throughout the day, totaling approximately 90, with further detentions following the outbreak of violence. Some apprehended individuals were found with illegal items, including knives and flares, leading to four arrests.

To maintain order, Athens witnessed a heavy police presence, with around 5,000 officers deployed across the city. Law enforcement used drones and a helicopter for aerial monitoring, while specialised water cannon vehicles, known as "Aiantes," stood ready at key locations to control any further disruptions.

Protests extended beyond Athens, with reports of similar events in Thessaloniki and other cities, underscoring the national reverberations of Grigoropoulos' death. The night concluded with the reopening of public transport hubs, which had been disrupted by the protests, and a memorial vigil held at the exact time of the incident 16 years ago.

This memorial day, marked every 6th of December, continues to evoke strong emotions and debates over police conduct and societal justice in Greece, reflecting broader issues of youth unrest and political dissatisfaction.

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