The very long and bloody history of police brutality has had a recent chapter in Nea Smyrni, Greece, in early March where, after repressing a demonstration (against police brutality, no less) and having a police officer wounded, the “Anti”-Terrorist Unit of the police initiated a savage vengeance campaign against several people, present or not at the demonstration.
Aris P., a member of the Masovka anarchist collective, was abducted on the street on March 10th, brought to the General Police Directorate (GADA), and beaten up, tortured and even suggested suicide for days. The government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, of the right-wing New Democracy Party, first denied it happened; then, when pressure began to mount, they have called Aris to testify for these horrific events. This is hardly something new – George Floyd, Rafael Braga, Théo L., Sarah Everard, Camilo Catrillanca are some examples from other countries, but the list is far longer than anyone could ever type down. Police has always been a tool of the ruling class to submit the exploited and oppressed, and in times of social, economic and health crisis such as 2020-21 (mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic but not only that), this function is even clearer. The Greek police was an essential part of dictatorship of Metaxas, and it is no surprise that the officers overwhelmingly voted for the fascist Golden Dawn party, but the Brazilian police, for example, is no different with its many murders of unarmed Black people and support of far-right would-be dictator Jair Bolsonaro.
Even countries supposedly ruled by leftists or progressists are no different and persecute, wound and imprison political activists – the shooting of Michael Brown, the false charges against Sebastian Romero, and the jailing of Pablo Hasél are but some examples. Now Aris P and the Masovka collective have taken a rather large step. They have decided to sue the Greek “Anti”-Terrorist Unit, not expecting the judiciary system to actually be fair, but as part of a campaign to raise awareness of police brutality in Greece and force the Greek democratic state to acknowledge its issues. They are receiving death threats, being stalked and suffering a smear campaign, and they need solidarity. Political solidarity, money to fund the legal campaign, and helping in spreading the word of what is happening. And we have decided to answer that call.
We are musicians, journalists, activists, and producers; we hail from black metal, dungeonsynth, hip-hop and slam poetry; we are Marxist-Leninists, Anarchists, Trotskysts, or simply concerned; we come from the States, Brazil, Greece and New Zealand. We are many, and we have many differences – many of us do not even agree that Aris’ and Masovka’s tactics are the best in this circumstance – but today we come together to state unanimously:
— DOWN WITH POLICE BRUTALITY IN GREECE AND THE WORLD!
— SOLIDARITY WITH ARIS P., MASOVKA AND ALL THOSE WHO STRUGGLE IN GREECE AND THE WORLD!
want to help? https://www.firefund.net/masovka is the place.
want to add your signature? send an e-mail to karolinaneznamy@gmail.com —