Thousands of workers and young people took part in the mass rally organized by trade unions, unions of the self-employed and other mass organizations. The demonstration began at the Ministry of Finance and concluded at the US Embassy.
The rally expressed broad popular condemnation of the country’s involvement in the war, as well as of government propaganda suggesting that the people should become accustomed to the sight of soldiers returning home in flag-draped coffins. Workers from both the private and public sectors, across all industries, delivered a clear message: “No sacrifices for the war or for their profits”.
The demonstration began with a gathering at the Ministry of Finance, where a delegation of unions representatives met with Deputy Finance Minister, Th. Petralias. They presented demands calling for disengagement from the war and for concrete measures to support people’s incomes. The government spokesperson’s response, once again invoking the need for “fiscal stability” and claiming that there are no available funds, was sharply criticised. G. Stefanakis, President of the Attica Hospitality Union, described this position as provocative, particularly in light of plans to allocate a further €7 billion for NATO military equipment.
At the same time, the unions unfurled a giant banner in front of the Parliament bearing the slogan: “Greece out of the war – Close the US–NATO bases. The people will not pay the price”.
The demonstrators then marched towards the US Embassy, led by a banner from the Federation of Construction Workers which set the tone: “Neither land nor water to the murderers of the people – Close the bases of death”.
Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the KKE, attended the rally and made the following statement to the media: “We state clearly: no involvement, no participation. All frigates must return from the Red Sea, wherever they are stationed. The Patriot missile batteries must also be brought back. The men and women of the Armed Forces,currently thousands of kilometres from our country’s borders —which alone they have sworn to defend— must return. We call, here and now, for decisive measures from the government to provide relief to people’s incomes, so that workers, wage earners, the self-employed, small business owners, farmers, and the Greek people as a whole may be supported —based both on the proposals submitted by the KKE in Parliament and on the demands of the workers’ and people’s movement itself, as expressed through its representatives in the streets of struggle”.
