Greeks march to commemorate 1973 student uprising
A demonstrator holds an anti-German banner reading ‘No to the fourth Riech’ during a rally marking the anniversary of the 1973 uprising by pro-democracy students against the country’s ruling military junta, on November 17, 2012, in Athens, Greece.
Greeks took to the streets on Saturday to participate in a march to commemorate the 1973 student uprising against former dictator George Papadopoulos.
The Associated Press reported about 20,000 people took part in the 39th anniversary protest.
The mostly peaceful marches took place in Athens and Greece’s second-largest city Thessaloniki, the AP wrote, and confirmed police arrested 89 people.
Reuters said demonstrators laid wreaths at the Athens Polytechnic University to honor the dozens killed in the 1973 revolt. They also held banners aimed at the current government's austerity policies that read "We can topple this new junta" and "our revolt will become your nightmare."
"Most of us feel that this is like the junta," Apostolis Sabaziotis said. The 32-year-old psychologist told Reuters she has not been paid in months. The country is struggling with high unemployment and a fiscal crisis.
The student uprising which started on November 14, 1973 ended with hundreds of arrests, thousands of injuries, and 12 “accidental” deaths, Reuters wrote.
The students were unable to overthrow Papadopoulos but a military coup days later removed the dictator from office.