FLYING GREEK ANARCHISTS
I could just about call every show we do FUCK THE POLICE and this one is no exception… but it goes without saying these days right? and the flying Greek Anarchists is a truly inspiration story.
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The show kicks off with April 29 1992 … a song about the riots in the aftermath of the acquittal of 4 people officers for the (video taped) beating of Rodney King.
There are riots all over America at the moment as communities rise up and express their discontent at yet more cases of police brutality (and fatalities) in which the officers involved are not held responsible for their conduct.
This song I think is the song for these times… especially the chorus ‘It’s about coming up and staying on top …. And screaming 187 on a motherfuckin’ cop’
Not that I would suggest violence…. just self defense.
The reason why the flying anarchists were hurling molotov cocktails (and a fridge!) was the hunger strike of Niko Romanos and the anniversary of the police murder of Alexandros Grigoropoulos in December 2008 .
In Greece they say ‘remember, remember the sixth of December’
Romanos was the best friend of Alexandros Grigoropoulos and Alexis died in his arms, this event radicalised Romanos.
He is serving time in prison for a bank robbery which targeted one of the banks that was never brought to account for its part in Greek’s economic woes.
“What is the robbing of a bank compared to the founding of a bank?” (Bertolt Brecht)
His hunger strike ended last week when the Greek government gave in to his demand for access to education.
Below is an excerpt from a text written by Romanos about hunger strikes.
A hunger strike is the ultimate means of struggle of a revolutionary individual. Historically it has been used by a wide political spectrum of fighters held hostage for their subversive action, mainly against democratic regimes.
From the dead hunger strikers of the r.o. Red Army Faction (RAF) and the deaths of the fighters of the IRA and ETA, up to the successful hunger strikes of anarchist comrades such as Christophoros Marinos and Kostas Kalaremas, the members of Revolutionary Struggle and the CCF. Points in common can be minimal to non-existent, but there is a decision which remains the same, “I am fighting to the end.”
This decision has been capable of creating specific blackmail against the State. Blackmail which, as paradoxical as it might sound, has gained important power of negotiation because of the dead hunger strikers.
And right at the end of the show we interview Steve Towson about his new song Christmas Island . Which is a fundraiser for the Asylum Seeker Resource Center.
MUSIC
Riot grandpa
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