2008 Greek Riots

[BAC]

Otherwise known as, "Why I train."

Source: here

On the night of Saturday, December 6th, two Special Guards of the Greek police clashed with a small group of young men. The exact details of what took place are still unclear, but it is known that one of the Guards fired three shots, and one of those bullets caused the death of 15-year-old Alexander Grigoropoulos - whether the injury was made by an accidental ricochet or deliberate shot remains to be determined. The two Guards are now in jail awaiting trial, the shooter charged with homicide. This incident sparked an immediate and widespread response in the form of angry demonstrations and riots in many Greek cities that have continued at varying levels to this day - though dimming in intensity recently. Alexander's death appears to have been a catalyst, unleashing widespread Greek anger towards many issues - police mistreatment of protesters, unwelcome education reforms, economic stagnation, government corruption and more.

Click the link above for all 37 pictures.

First, read the story at the beginning, and then look at the pictures. Second, read the comments. Maybe not all of them, but several. Third, I wanted to quote the comment that stood out the most to me as I read:

I n Greece we have confused everything. Some people think that if you attack to a policeman or if you burn cars and buildings you become a rebel for the common good. For sure there is a dramatic fact. A policeman, with out any obvious reason shot against a company of children and killed one of it. Tragic indeed. This stupid and dangerous for the society policeman has to be punished severely. But this is not a good excuse for the chaos that has been created. In Greece we live on a daily base for many decades the “democracy of the minorities”. 50 people for any reason, reasonable or not, fair or not, can close central avenues and create a traffic mess. Is this democratic? In Greece we live the pervasion of democracy. And if the authorities continue to ignore the real common good and to not react, the time will come that the silent and hard working real democratic majority will come to roads. Not against the incapable and corrupted politicians, but against the minorities that burn, destroy and underestimate the quality of our lives and the quality of our democracy.

-B

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Jackle1886]

I do not understand. They are upset about the kid dieing, rightfully so, but throwing stones, burning cars and buildings is going to make it all better?

[BAC]

Culmination of what they perceive as a serious right-wing government administration (it is), growing anger at a progressively more inept government, wasteful spending, an ailing economy, and fairly wide-spread government corruption. The killing of the kid was the catalyst, the straw that broke the camel's back. Keep in mind that the officer states he fired in self-defense because the kids were going to throw a petrol bomb (oil-based Molotov cocktails) at him. Although, given that riots were bound to happen soon anyway, and apparent eagerness to light police on fire as evidenced by the pictures, I'm not all that quick to condemn the officer since he may well be telling the truth.

Fire-bombing, looting, swinging boards, and throwing rocks...


-B

[ecbaatz]

I do not understand. They are upset about the kid dieing, rightfully so, but throwing stones, burning cars and buildings is going to make it all better?

Sounds like sports fans here, whether their team wins or loses.

[Miggy]

I am not informed of what's happening there, but the pictures are amazing.

There will be some people that are bent on destruction no matter what. They will use any incident as excuse. That is why I avoid masses like the plague. I have been in a couple of incidents that I was scared to death for my life.

[archer51]

Gang throwing fire bombs at police, someone gets shot. I have no problems with that. If he hadn't been there, he wouldn't be dead now.
Okay, so I'm intolerant of stupidity!

[packinnova]

Sounds to me like they need to give the cop a medal, but that's just me

[Gun Loving Liveral]

When I entered college my parents always advised me against joining a fraternity. Never know what those greeks will do!

[retsupt99]

I have little understanding of the local situations over in Greece. I do know that I see several things that bother me greatly...people throwing firebombs and destroying property, and a cop arrested for doing his job (protect and serve).
Protesters with firebombs should be immediately shot (that's just me). That's a personal deadly threat (see cop in flames).
Protesters destroying buildings should be immediately shot (that's just me again). Police MUST protect society from individuals who have no apparent value for life...you attempt to set a cop on fire, or set a building on fire where people live...you deserve the 'maximum threat repellant'.

Why would any cop want to take a job where you are expected to remain a target of a rioting crowd with deadly intentions and do nothing?

Special Note: The pictures with this story are really amazing.

The potential for this kind of violence in the U.S. is already here.

Stay armed...stock up...stay safe!

[BAC]

Keep in mind that the main body of protesters are just that: protesters. They're nonviolent but vocal. What's coming out more about this situation is the main body of rioters are folks who've been looking for an excuse to riot anyway: extreme anarchist and communist groups just trying to do damage. The looters are the general ne'er-do-wells you find in every culture with urban areas and minority populations.

Were I to see a co-worker, friend, partner, whatever, lit on fire, I don't think I'd have the same restraint as these Greek policemen apparently do.


-B

[hudsonvalley]

A tragedy turns into a travesty....the young Greeks need more direction, and not from the Socialist side of things, they already had a Civil War....
Dimitri
American by birth, from Greek parts....