50 years since the 1973 Athens Polytechnic uprising against the Greek Junta

This Friday, 17th November 2023, marks the 50th anniversary of the Polytechnic uprising which subsequently led to the fall of the military dictatorial regime in Greece. 

The events at the Athens Polytechnic in 1973 consist one of the most significant moment of class struggle in Greece during the second half of the 20th century. But what was the historical background and the socio-political developments that led to the uprising of the Greek youth?

 

49th anniversary of the Polytechnic uprising: Massive anti-imperialist rally by the KKE in Athens

The events for the celebration of the 49th anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising culminated on Thursday 17/11/2022 with the mass rallies of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and its youth wing (KNE), to the US embassy.

Thousands of people, workers, students, pensioners, men and women of every age, waving the flags of the KKE, demonstrated against the imperialist war and Greece's participation in it, the anti-popular policy that crushes workers’–people’s rights and achievements and turns the country into a US-NATO base for the profits of business groups. Similar marches took place in Thessaloniki and other major cities throughout the country.

Greece: Massive anti-imperialist rallies in honor of the 1973 Polytechnic Uprising

Thousands of people took part in the annual rallies held in Athens, Thessaloniki and other major Greek cities by the Communist Party (KKE) and its youth wing (KNE) on Wednesday 17 November, in order to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the 1973 Polytechnic Uprising against the military Junta.

In Athens, the demonstrators marched peacefully through central streets of the Greek capital, shouted anti-imperialist slogans ("Since the Polytechnic, the enemy remains the same: NATO, governments, capitalism") and ended outside the U.S. Embassy where they burned flags of NATO and the United States.

The KKE pays tribute to the 48th anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising

By Nikos Mottas.

 

"This year's celebration of the Polytechnic uprising can become another link in the workers-people's struggle for education and work with humane conditions, protection measures for the health and life of the people, free time, income for a dignified life, for the rejection of any anti-labor - anti-popular law, for the condemnation of any bourgeois party, which, with the whip or carrot, deprives the workers and their families of the wealth they produce", the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) emphasizes in its statement on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the uprising of the Athens Polytechnic (read here the statement in Greek).

Solidarity with the KKE — Communist and Workers' Parties denounce Greek government's authoritarianism

Yesterday, on the 47th anniversary of the Polytechnic Uprising, the rally of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) was violenty attacked by riot police forces in the center of Athens.

A few days ago the conservative New Democracy (ND) government, escalating authoritarianism and repression, banned anti-imperialist demonstrations and any gathering of more than three people across the country, on the pretext that the march would be a health 'time bomb' due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The KKE performed its rally, in an organized way and observing all the necessary social distancing measures. But the police, on the orders of the government, unleashed an unprovoked attack with batons, tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades. The police did not hesitate to attack KKE MPs, while also injuring protesters and proceeding to dozens of arrests.

On this occasion, numerous Communist Parties express their solidarity and support to the KKE.

Greece: Brutal and unprovoked attack of riot police against KKE demonstration (VIDEO)

Earlier today Greek riot police forces unleashed an unprovoked and brutal attack against a peaceful demonstration organized in Athens by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in honor of the 47th anniversary of the Polytechnic uprising. 

Police forces tried to disperse the demonstration by using excessive violence and tear gas and proceeded to the arrest of a few protestors. 

According to information published by 902 portal, the General Secretary of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas, as well as Party MPs who were on the spot, protested to police officers demanding the release of those arrested. 

47 years since the Athens Polytechnic Uprising — KKE blasts Greek government's ban on public gatherings

The 17th of November marks the 47th anniversary since the Athens Polytechnic uprising of students against Greece's military dictatorship. Recently, under the pretext of Covid-19 pandemic, government authoritarianism has escalated by banning this year's anti-imperialist march on the U.S. embassy, which is organized every year on 17/11 to commemorate the anniversary of the uprising. 

Trade unions and mass people's organizations have made clear that the anti-imperialist march on Tuesday, November 17 will take place by observing all health protection measures, as it happened on May Day. 

GREECE: Massive anti-imperialist rally in honor of the 1973 Polytechnic Uprising (PHOTOS)

Thousands of people participated in the annual rally that was held in Athens, Greece on Sunday 17 November, in commemoration of the 1973 Polytechnic Uprising against the military Junta. 

The demonstrators marched through central streets of the Greek capital and ended outside the U.S. embassy where they shouted anti-imperialist slogans and burned flags of the United States and the European Union.

Greeks pay tribute to the heroic 1973 Athens Polytechnic Uprising (PHOTOS)

A toddler lays flowers to the Polytechnic monument.
Photo source: 902.gr.

Thousands of people of every age gathered today at the Athens Polytechnic in order to honour the heroic uprising of 1973 against the military dictatorship. 

The commemoration events which began on Friday will culminate on Sunday 17 November with the annual large anti-imperialist rally towards the U.S. embassy in downtown Athens. 

On the occasion of the Polytechnic uprsing anniversary, a statement by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) points out that "the slogans of the Polytechnic remain timely in the struggle aganst the policy that leads the people to poverty, unemployment, insecurity, against the implication of Greece in the imperialist plans of NATO-USA-EU, against repression and authoritarianism". 

Greek riot police storms Athens University of Economics, suspends academic sanctuary

Riot police forces during the raid at the university campus.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) denounces the violation of the academic sanctuary by police forces which stormed the Athens University of Economics (ASOEE) and fired tear gas against demonstrating students. 

Greek riot police forces entered the premises of the university on Monday in order to remove students who were protesting against the decision of the institute's senate to shut down the university for a week. During the raid, police fired tear gas and firecrackers to disperse the students.

45 years since the Polytechnic uprising in Greece: Large anti-imperialist rally to the US embassy in Athens

Under the slogan "No to the plans of the government and imperialists. NATO and its bases, out of Greece", thousands of people of every age participated in the large march, organized by the KKE, the KNE, workers and students' unions, in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the 1973 Polytechnic uprising. 

The march began from Stadiou avenue, passed through Syntagma Square and ended at the U.S. embassy where the demonstrators shouted anti-imperialist slogans, raising their voice for Greece's disengagement from the dangerous NATO-USA-EU imperialist plans. 

45 years since the 1973 Athens Polytechnic uprising against the Greek Junta

This Saturday, 17th November, marks the 45th anniversary of the Polytechnic uprising which subsequently led to the fall of the military dictatorial regime in Greece. 

The events at the Athens Polytechnic in 1973 consist one of the most significant moments of class struggle in Greece during the second half of the 20th century. 

Like every year, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and its youth wing (KNE) will organize a massive, anti-imperialist rally towards the U.S. embassy in Athens on Saturday 17th November. Similar events will take place in Thessaloniki and other major Greek cities. 

Mass and militant rally of the KKE and KNE for the Polytechnic Uprising anniversary in Athens (VIDEO)

Large militant rally by KKE, KNE and labour-students' unions commemorating the 44th anniversary since the Polytechnic Uprising; Athens, 17 November.

"Bread, Education, Liberty": 44 years later, the legacy of the Polytechnic Uprising lives on

Like every year, on November 17th, rallies have been scheduled for today in  Athens and other Greek cities in order to commemorate and honour the 43rd anniversary of the students and workers uprising in Athens, which is historically known as the Polytechnic Uprising. 

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Communist Youth (KNE), as well as numerous labour organisations, students unions and women's associations, have issued statements calling for mass participation in the march for the Polytechnic. 

VIDEO: Large and militant rally by KKE in Athens honoring the 43rd anniversary of the Polytechnic Uprising

The demonstration in Athens was attended by the General Secretary of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumbas who made the following statements:

43 years since the 1973 Athens Polytechnic Uprising against the military Junta

Mass rallies have been scheduled for today in many Greek cities in order to commemorate and honour the 43rd anniversary of the students and workers uprising in Athens, which is historically known as the Polytechnic Uprising. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Communist Youth (KNE) have organised a large demonstration-march to the U.S. embassy in downtown Athens, as well as other rallies in major cities, including Thessaloniki, Patra, Larisa, Iraklio etc. This year's anniversary of the 1973 Polytechnic Uprising against the military Junta coincides with the visit of U.S. President Obama (15-16 November) in Greece and the SYRIZA-ANEL policy which involves the country deeper in the imperialist plans. 

What follows is a brief historical review of the 1973 Polytechnic Uprising. 

On the night of the 20th to the 21st of April 1967, the reactionary military circles of the country, which were closely connected to the secret services of the USA and NATO, conducted a military coup. The operation of the surrender of power to the army had been developed at the staff of NATO, under the code name "Prometheus". Colonels G. Papadopoulos and N. Makarezos, who were actively involved in the preparation of the coup, became known as "the black colonels".