Thousands of workers, farmers, unemployed and self-employed men and women participated in a large demonstration organized by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) in the center of Thessaloniki on Saturday evening.
The protest was organized on the occasion of the opening, by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, of the 83rd International Trade Fair where the "honored country" is the United States of America.
Under the major slogan "Their development means NATO-Poverty-Wars. We put ahead our needs", the protesters gathered at Aristotelous Square, giving a powerful response to the governmental mockery about the supposed "end of austerity". The demonstrators denounced the anti-workers policy of the SYRIZA-ANEL government as well as the deeper involvement of the country in the dangerous US-NATO imperialist plans in the region.
The rally was attended by the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas who made the following statement to the press:
"Here, today, from Thessaloniki, in a police-protected and dominated by the US- city, we demonstrate under the flags of PAME, for the satisfaction of the modern popular needs. Eight years now, the governments of New Democracy, PASOK and SYRIZA, alternately, brought us to a medieval employment condition. The next day of Mr. Tsipras does not differ in anything from the previous one. Because, as it seems, the memorandum laws, the antipeople laws will continue to exist, our people will suffer from poverty and unemployment, the US-NATO plans in the region, for which the government gave everything all these years, will continue to exist".
"And, of course - Secretary Koutsoumbas added- the Greek people looks forward. All of us must look forward. With a powerful KKE, with a strong labor movement, with social alliance we can bring the needed overthrows, the radical changes, with the people actually being in power, for a new society, a new economy".
The demonstation of PAME marched in the city's central streets defying the extremely strict police measures and sent a militant message to both the government of Alexis Tsipras as well as to his U.S. allies who accompanied him at the opening of the International Trade Fair.
Below you can see photos from the rally:
(902.gr)
