Today marks the 15th anniversary of the shooting of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos by a Greek policeman, and in remembrance protests have been organized throughout the country which will result in road and metro station closures and significantly heightened police presence.
A protest is organized in downtown Athens at noontime and 18:00, along with a silent protest that will be held at 21:00 at the location of his shooting in Athens’ Exarchaia district. Citizens should expect road closures in downtown Athens throughout the day and evening.
In connection with the above, the metro station Panepistimio will be closed from 9:00 and Monastiraki station from 11:00-15:00 and then again from 18:00. The metro and train lines will operate as scheduled but will not conduct stops at those two stations.
Scheduled protests will also take place in Thessaloniki (12:00 and 18:00), Patra, Volos, Arginio, Karditsa, Komotini, Chalkida and Kavala.
Governmental authorities note that there will be significantly heightened police presence in Athens, including riot police, helicopters, and drones.
Alexandros Grigoropoulos was fatally wounded by a single bullet to the chest in the Exarcheia district, the hub of self-styled anarchists and anti-state movements in the country, on Wednesday Dec. 6 in 2008. The shocking incident sparked mass protests and widespread rioting throughout the country, and ever since the day has been one of solemn remembrance for Grigoropoulos, which has often been accompanied by street violence in the past.
