Greece: Solidarity Demo to Τimo Behrendt

Photos from the solidarity demo can be found at  http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=722213

Video from the demo can be found at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSHjXm69Yzg

The video can be downloaded from  http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=722213#722220

On Sunday 17-6-2007 more than 150 anarchists, following a demo waving black flags through the streets of Salonica with cars, buses and motorbikes, arrived at Diavata Prison at exactly the time that the prisoners were in the yard to hold a solidarity demo to Timo Behrendt from Germany. Timo was arrested on the 20th February 2007 after a solidarity concert which was organised by students in the "University of Thessaloniki" to those accused for taking part into student riots against a proposed education bill that shook Greek for almost a year.

After the end of the concert, there was a quarrel with the police because they wanted to clear the place. Timo from Berlin that had helped with the concert, was brutally arrested by the police in the late evening. Allegedly he had taken part in the protest against the police interference. There is no evidence for this accusation and merely police witnesses claim to have seen him. Even at the date of the habeas corpus - in front of an enormous, supporting audience - no further evidence could be brought forward. Since 24th February the non-previously convicted person has been imprisoned and awaits trial that may take place up to 18 months after his imprisonment. He can only be visited by his family.

The anarchist solidarity demo, which was guarded by riot police almost caused a prison riot since those gathered and the prisoners for almost an hour were shouting along political slogans with just a wall separating them. The prison guards that could not handle the situation locked themselves up waiting for the anarchist demo to end.

THE PASSION FOR FREEDOM IS STRONGER THAN ANY PRISON CELL