Tuesday, November 17th, marked the 36th year since the Polytechnic Uprising in Greece in 1973. How do the Greeks commemorate the overthrow of the last dictatorship, death of college students who refused to leave an occupied building, and establishment of their current government? How else, than by rioting. I guess this year was a bit more tame than the past, as it was not technically a riot and is technically organized by the government; however, in years past the march has been more rowdy according to sources. The march itself takes place from the Polytechnic Institute (local university), meets in front of the Parliamentary Square, and ends at the US Embassy near my current home.

     The history of the even went something like this: students outraged at the dictatorship that had lasted for seven years and included about all the malice a dictatorial regime could, organized a sit in at the Polytechnic Institute that grew very big very quickly. Families were sending food, water, supplies, etc to the students at night, radio stations were broadcasting messages for them. In short, their sit in became a popular movement. As it progressed into an actual uprising, the military became active and moved in on the institude with troops and tanks. After an evening of killings and shootings by the military, tanks moved forward to tear down the barricades set by the students and infiltrated the building, violently taking control. Many were wounded and dead. This was not the overthrow, but a major turning point in the fight for democracy.

     At first, observing what was supposed to be a riot seemd very obsurd to me; especially, since something like a riot is not organized by the government in America - not the case here. But, as we were waiting for the marchers in between Parliamentary Square and the US Embassy, I took a seat apart from our group and the chance to observe the Greeks around me. In particular, an old man, weathered by the test of time, sat alone on a small concrete block, holding a carnation in his hand, and staring into the bare street. Perhaps he was in the Polytechnic? Maybe his friends were? Or even his sons? What would it have been like to live in Greece during this time and know your brothers, sisters, friends, sons, and daughters all held a building that was surrounded by tanks? Right: Said old man.

     By this time, the first round of protestors came forth marching and chanting something the likes of, "Brothers of the past you lead us forwards." Following them were actual members of the sit in and then groups of college students, adults, children, high schoolers, all marching behind banners, some exclaiming wrong doing on the part of the US for occupation here or there, some supporting communism, but most demanding an end to imperialism. It's pretty awkward standing on the sidewalk watching a communist flag march past you supported by thousands of people and a translator calmly stating in your ear, "They're saying end all US bases and imperialism, Americans get out, etc." But, the large majority of the supporters appeared to be there in the spirit of the events, as a nationalistic support for their fight to independence and struggle for democracy. Left: Surviving members of original march.

     The event ends at the US embassy due the the fact that the US was viewed as fascist in the 1970s by the Greeks when the march officially began. The tradition continues today. Some of our teachers described it as an Anarchist March, which was partially true, but really only a small amount of people marched behind the anarchy flag and most appeared to be older, long haired, "more free" citizens of Greece and then more alternative youth around my age. The fact that the anarchists were marching in an organized march seems contradictory and even more so that some had their Iphones out and were wearing such and such a brand. Apart from that however, it was one more "thing I wouldn't see in the US" added to my list.