15 years since the murder of Alexis Grigoropoulos

Featured image: The contingent of TKP/ML and KKE(m-l) in the demonstration in Athens. Source: Avrupa Haber Merkezi

The 15th anniversary of the murder of the 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos was commemorated in Greece, Athens. The teenager was killed in Exarcheia, Athens on December 6th 2008 by cops who shot him after having a minor verbal clash with the group of teenagers. The murderers got away with a ”slap on the wrist”: in 2019, the life imprisonment conviction of one of the officers was overturned and his sentence was reduced to 13 years, while his accomplice was freed from prison.

In 2008, the protests sparked weeks of rebellion and struggle against the police, and also in the past years, the commemoration of the anniversary has been explosive, with protesters attacking the police and protesting the general conditions of exploitation and repression in Greece. The protests were connected to a larger uprising and anger of the masses in the country heavily affected by the 2008 financial crisis. Police brutality was systematically used against those who dare to protest by the Greek State.

This year, thousands of people gathered to commemorate Grigoropoulos and protest the police violence, which has also increased in recent years with the deepening of the general crisis of imperialism. In the protest, the supporters of the TKP/ML formed a contingent with the KKE(m-l). The systematic use of police brutality by the Greek State was denounced. In addition to Grigoropoulos, also other young people murdered by the police were commemorated, with their pictures held up during the march. The police was on high alert, with over 4,000 officers deployed to repress protests. At the memorial of Grigoropoulos, clashes with the police ensued, with protesters throwing rocks, petrol bombs and other projectiles at the police. 90 were detained. One police officer is reported to be in critical condition in hospital due to having been hit with a flare.