November 17

November 17 marked the anniversary of the devastating incident that happened at the Polytechnic University here in Athens in  1973.  During the days leading up to the 17th there were protests against the the military regime (Junta) that controlled most of Greece during this time.  Students at the Polytechnic University felt strongly about the politics around them and decided to do a stand in at the University to get their opinions across.  The students were even able to construct a radio station within the walls of the school that broadcasted around Athens where they again expressed their opinions of the matter.  On the morning of the November 17 the Junta had enough and rolled their tanks through the locked gates of the University and more or less trampled everything in sight, including students and other surrounding civilians.  

Since then every year there has been a march on November 17th to commemorate the lives lost at Polytechnic.  However, it has turned into more of a political march rather than one of commemoration.  It also has become, in a way, an anti-American march due to the fact the America was supporting the Junta at the time.  In fact the march starts at the Polytechnic campus and the the parade through the streets until the reach the US Embassy.  

As a program we were given the chance to go and watch the demonstration with some of the faculty here at Arcadia. During the march it is very common for riots to break out, especially in front of the Embassy.  Riot police where out in full force, with 

all their gear.  They had shields, helmets, shin guards and even tear gas guns, they were ready if anything were to break out!  Because of the potential danger involved in this, we took all the necessary steps to make the experience a safe one.  We were instructed to wear plain clothes, no American brands.  We also were not allowed to speak English loudly so we could not be pinpointed, we were even instructed to go no where the US embassy that day. We had to stay with the faculty who could sense if danger was near.  Luckily, the riot this year was relatively peaceful and we had no problems, but it was still a crazy experience.   

All different types of political parties marched on November 17, but the Communist were the dominate party represented.  Each party had their own chants and flags and signs.  However, the flags where little dinky flags.  They were huge 2x4's with red fabric dangling from them.  They knew that if a riot where to break out, they needed some sort of weapon, and their flag was exactly that.  It was intimidating.  But the most intimidating group was the Anarchists.  They were dressed in head to toe in black.  They even wore black scarves around their mouths, preparing themselves for tear gas.  Instead of the chanting

that was heard by every other group the Anarchists were completely silent.  It was so eery.  The riot police walked along with the Anarchists, ready to fight back if anything broke out.  It was so intimidating.  We were told not to look them in the eye because they would have taken that as a "challenge."  It was so interesting, but so eery all at the same time.  Luckily, nothing too bad happened during the march.  The worst was that an Anarchist throw an empty water bottle at one of the riot police's helmets which then bounced off and hit my friend Melissa in the head, however there was really no harm done.  Thankfully, November 17th ended relatively peacefully, but it did host for a very interesting and very different experience!