Expatica news

Thousands protest in Greece against racism

Athens — About 2,000 people took to the streets in Athens last week to protest against racism and government plans to deport clandestine migrants.

Demonstrators marched to parliament, carrying banners, reading "No to racism, no to the government measures" and shouting "Hands off immigrants" and "No to expulsions".

The protest was organised by trade unions, a migrant defence committee and left-wing groups.

Far-left groups including anarchists marched in Athens on Tuesday and clashed with far-right groups and police in a district inhabited mainly by migrants.

Greece’s conservative government took a tougher position on immigration after the extreme right won seven percent of the vote in last month’s European Parliament election.

The interior ministry announced last week it would step up the number of expulsions using charter flights.

More than 250,000 clandestine migrants live in Greece, many hoping to reach western Europe, according to estimates by experts and non-government organisations.

AFP/Expatica