European Citizens Show Support to Greece with Rallies in Major Cities

Demonstrations supporting Greece in this difficult period took place in Berlin, Rome and Paris on Saturday, coinciding with Refugee Day.

In Berlin, Blockupy and German opposition leftist parties Die Linke and Die Grünen organized a large protest against austerity in Greece and Europe in general. About 1,800 demonstrators protested with Greek flags and placards with anti-austerity slogans.

The rally started in the Kreuzberg neighborhood and culminated at the Brandenburg Gate. The crowd also shouted slogans in favor of immigrants, as yesterday, June 20, was Refugee Day. “No boundaries, no nations, stop the deportations” and “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here” were some of the slogans.

But Greece featured heavily in the rally as several protesters also held Greek flags or placards with slogans in favor of Athens. “The technocratic, cold and neoliberal Europe under the German administration is intolerable,” a banner said.

In Paris, protesting members of leftist organizations shouted slogans for Greece and against austerity policies. On a placard it was written: “Greece, France, Europe: Austerity kills,  democracy dies … Resist.”

In Italy, the demonstration rally was small with only 100 protesters who gathered outside the Coliseum, defying the rain, asking “Stop the slaughter now”, said a banner referring to the thousands of migrants who have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea, trying to reach Europe by sea.

Some protesters were there to show their solidarity to Greece. “We are here to save our Europe, including refugees, immigrants and Greece. Europe should belong to everyone and not only the Germans and the banks,”said a 66-year-old pensioner on television.