Greeks protest against Golden Dawn attack on Communists

[pampango]

Source: UK Guardian


Members of the Golden Dawn party guard a stage during a rally in Athens earlier this year.[/i ]

Thousands of Greeks took to the streets of Athens on Friday to protest against a violent attack on Communist party members by black-shirted supporters of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party which left nine people in hospital with serious injuries.

In what was described as a murderous attack – and the most serious violence since the extremist group was elected to the country's parliament last year – about 50 men wielding crowbars and bats set upon leftists as they distributed posters in a working-class district of the capital late on Thursday.

"It was very well organised and the most serious incident yet," he told the Guardian. "They are no longer only targeting immigrants in the middle of the night. They are deliberately increasing tensions, expanding their agenda of hate, by going for leftists."

Surveys released by the pollsters Public Issue and Pulse in recent days confirmed that the extremists – who recently blasted people attending a "Greeks only" food handout with the official anthem of Nazi Germany – were the nation's fastest growing group and, at 13% and 15% respectively, its third biggest political force. The main opposition party, the radical left Syriza, topped the ratings with 29% of support, marginally ahead of prime minister Antonis Samaras's centre-right New Democracy party. Many worry that Golden Dawn, which won 18 seats with almost 7% of the vote last June, will further boost its share of votes when local elections are held next year.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/13/greeks-protest-golden-dawn-attack-communists

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The far-right - always the masters of "us vs them" politics - has particularly fertile ground to operate in Greece with its lasting economic depression.

[vdogg]

1. Communists and Nazis

That's quite a mix. I find the fact though that Nazis can gain legitimate political power, in amounts large enough to affect a country's policy, deeply disturbing.

[Scootaloo]

2. Fascism is always popular

It's so much easier to go with the flow, to follow orders, to nod when they say nod and to cheer when they tell you to cheer, than it is to come up with your own thoughts. it's comfortable to let someone else take charge, to sit back and enjoy the ride. And best of all, you get to do that because you're special. You're powerful. You're an amazing member of the most amazing nation peopled by the most amazing race, you lucky person you. All those other people, well, they're out to get you, so they deserve what they get. Those jews and communists and negros and leftists and gays are all trying to screw you over and only The leader can keep them at bay and in their place.

Fascism is popular because it's both easy and empowering - for the "winners" of the fascist lottery, at least. You don't have to think too hard, and you get the double boost of being told you're a special and powerful Somebody, and also that those Other People are nobodies below you who you get to tread on.

And when you come down to the fact we're tribal apes coping with an Anthropocene reality by using our old Pleistocene brains, the strange allure of fascism should be readily evident.

[loudsue]

4. Well said.

Fascism stinks. The repukes of today don't even know that is what they are supporting.

[L.A.dweller]

14. Nor the Democrats for that matter.

[mountain grammy]

3. Goddam Eurozone central banking crap. Greece giving up it's monetary system

what could possible go wrong? This is most disturbing news from a place I love.

Right wing nationalists organizations just need a little economic turmoil to get started, then not much more to get violent, because they're nuts and extremely dangerous and so good at the "us vs them mentality." We sure have plenty of them here.

[socialist_n_TN]

5. As always. This is why the KKE needs to organize their own....

self defense militias. Any demo or leafleting will need to be protected from now on. Also if the Greek version of the Black Bloc wants to REALLY make a difference, they'll target these murderous thugs rather than windows and trash cans.

Sorry to offend the sensibilities of any pacifists out there, but THIS kind of shit is how the Third Reich started. It needs to be stopped NOW!

[ButterflyBlood]

7. Fuck the KKE

Authoritarian Stalinists are my type of leftist. I see this more as Golden Dawn vs. actually decent people in Greece.

[socialist_n_TN]

9. Not a fan of Stalinists either. Trotskyist here, BUT......

the KKE is the largest single far left group in Greece at this time AND the article did say that the fascists were targeting communists. Now, Syriza would be next of course. My point is that SOMEBODY needs to get out ahead of this with some self defense militias. Otherwise, the fascists WILL NOT STOP!

[JackRiddler]

15. "First they came for the Communists."

And it wasn't okay just because their party was still Stalinist.

[socialist_n_TN]

17. Thanks Jack for saying that better and shorter than I did....

[ButterflyBlood]

6. one group of totalitarian assholes attacking another

Though of course it's not fair for any innocents stuck in the cross fire affected. Glad to see the Greeks are taking action.

[JackRiddler]

16. You know nothing about Greece, so please.

[freshwest]

8. That photo reminds me of this video. Who says it can't happen here?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023341602#post39

When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.

~ Sinclair Lewis

'Patriots' with their 'Constitutional' memes are dishonest. They have rejected the words 'All Men Are Created Equal.' The laws they support to oppress so many prove it. They are not for the USA, but the CSA.

[heaven05]

10. nazis' terror

started in one country and soon set the whole world aflame in a war. Hitler started with 5-7 percent of vote. Fascist always use a worried family person with mouths to feed as their foot soldiers. They promise bread and deliver bloodshed. I hope they are stopped, soon.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

11. It's the Weimar Republic

coming back to life. They'll be burning down the Reichstag next.

[BillyRibs]

13. Seems like the path that has been chosen.

We have a large Bundes party in the US now It's called the "Tea Party".

[KittyWampus]

12. #1. I've never seen the Greek Key used as a swastika. #2. The Golden Dawn? I'm aware of the esoteric

order. Had no idea it was used as a neo-nazi moniker in Greece.