Anti-racist demonstration held in Athens

Thousands of anti-racists held a large-scale protest and march in downtown Athens on Thursday evening, calling on the government to review its current immigration policy.

The demonstration was organized by the Albanian Immigrants Forum, the Greek Social Forum backed by Coalition of the Left, trade unions and other peace organizations in a response to violence in many Greek cities following Albania's victory over newly-crowned Greek national football team last Saturday, when one Albanian immigrant was killed, and dozens injured in street clashes dubbed as "ethno-hooliganism."

The Albanian Immigrants Forum said in an announcement that last Saturday's incidents were not isolated, but caused by organized extreme right elements with police tolerance. It called for prevention of further escalation of the climate.

Gathering at Omonia Square and with strong police presence, some 5,000 demonstrators marched towards central Syntagma Square, carrying anti-racist slogans in Greek and Albanian, and demanded equal labor and political rights to immigrant workers.

"It is time for the other Greece to speak... Greece of the working people and of the people who toil, of democracy, of open borders and of solidarity," the speakers stressed.

Demonstrators condemned neo-fascist organization called Golden Dawn, whose members were recognized among the attackers on Albanian fans last Saturday.

About one million strong Albanians live in Greece, most of whomare illegal immigrants.

The demonstration ended with 13 protesters detained and sporadic clashes between the police and groups of masked persons who threw Molotov cocktails on central Omonia Square.

Source: Xinhua