Over the past few days, in Stavroupoli region, in the west suburb of Thessaloniki —the 2nd largest city of Greece— a vocational upper-secondary school (EPAL) became the centre of events that provoke anger and indignation.

On Tuesday morning, 27 September, a group of fascists wearing hoods and fully equipped with bats, came out of the schoolyard, and just like an assault battalion they attacked university students that were mobilising outside the school. This mobilisation was spurred on by a fascist attack against three university students that took place a few days earlier outside the same school.

Similar events occurred on Wednesday morning, 28 September. However, this time the fascists even used Molotov cocktails, while the police forces left them untouched and, with tear gases, struck against the university students and the members of KNE that were gathered in the same place calling for an antifascist mobilisation on the same day. The school administration bears heavy responsibility since they allowed the fascists to enter and leave the school, carrying their equipment and using the school as their base, to hurt school-students.

On Wednesday afternoon, 29 September, a large rally of school-student councils, students’ unions and trade unions was held. With the slogan “Neither in our schools nor anywhere else! We block the fascists in every neighbourhood!”, thousands of protesters of the people and the youth of Thessaloniki sent once again the message to isolate the fascist groups.

On Thursday, 30 September, the police forces didn’t allow the representatives of parents' associations and trade unions to approach the school, which had been turned by the Nazis into their base, while at the same time the fascists attempted to intimidate school-students from other schools nearby.

On the morning of Sunday, 3 October, a murderous attack with chains, tasers, and other weapons, was launched against members of the KKE and KNE in the same area of Thessaloniki, who were out on the streets circulating the Party’s newspaper. This attack led to the injury of 4 members of KKE and KNE.

The government of ND bears great responsibilities since its official line is the exoneration of the criminal fascist elements by identifying them with the movement, using the shameful theory of the two extremes.

Nevertheless, it is important to highlight the reasons behind the emergence of fascist groups in these specific schools...

This EPAL is amongst the largest school complexes of Thessaloniki, with more than 1,200 school-students. This complex is situated in the heart of the west suburb of Thessaloniki, surrounded by large working-class neighbourhoods. The school-students of this EPAL have been at the forefront of the development of school mobilisations over the past years, with fair demands for a better school. The forces of KNE have waged great battles at this EPAL.

In fact, the same school principals who, over the past two days, just stood and remained idle before the assault battalion’s attacks from the inside of school, last year during the mobilisations they even called the anti-terrorist unit to face the school-students! Over the past year, the school-students with their massive assemblies managed to isolate and marginalise these fascist elements, and they were at the forefront of the millitant mobilisations.

The fascist groups are extremely annoyed with the strengthening of KNE at these schools, and in general with the school-students’ militant processes in the region. They are also annoyed that thousands of young people flocked to the Festival of KNE, which was carried out a few days ago in the same municipality. It is even more obvious that both they and the system that they serve are disturbed by the fact that the young people and children of working-class and popular families are breaking the shackles of vague frustration and are exploring the radical ideas of the KKE and KNE. They know that these young people, who are the next shift of workers, together with the revolutionary ideology are an explosive combination, extremely dangerous for the bosses.

It’s thus clear that fascism cannot die with court decisions. The front page of Rizospastis Newspaper, a year ago, on the historic day of the Golden Dawn conviction is confirmed to the letter: “We must not fall into complacency! We continue the struggle against fascism and the system that gives rise to it”.

The Greek people and youth waged great battles against the serpent’s egg and its organised manifestation, Golden Dawn. They managed to isolate them, because this became the cause of the entire people’s movement, its unions and organisations. The KKE and KNE were at the forefront of this battle. This is also demonstrated by the events in Stavroupoli, where the mass presence of KNE sets the pace in thwarting any attempt to instil fear. The forces of KNE are taking their place at the forefront so they can raise the issue of isolating such groups in all mass organisations of the city; they were immediately en masse outside schools thus giving a response to this attack. The rallies silenced all those who are thinking of getting out of the holes that the people’s movement has driven them into. Because fascism can only be smashed in the streets by aiming at its core: the very system that gives rise to it!

05,10,2021