The murder of rapper Pavlos Fyssas in September 2013 by a member of the now defunct neo-Nazi group Golden Dawn shocked a bailout-battered Greece at the time and set in motion a wide-ranging judicial investigation that led the convictions and jailing of most of its top leaders, mostly notably on the charge of forming and running a criminal organization.
Fyssas, who went by his stage name “Killah P”, was known for his politically charged and often controversial and offensive lyrics, has since been viewed as an anti-fascist icon by leftist, far-left and anti-state movements in the country.
On the ocassion of the nine years since the murder of Pavlos Fyssas (also known by the nickname “Killah P” ), anti-fascist groups organise a demonstration in Keratsini, Athens, Greece, September 18, 2022.
Fyssas was stabbed to death on Sept. 18, 2013, at the age of 34, in the working-class district of Keratsini, near the main port of Piraeus. His assailant, Giorgos Roupakias, was a mid-level member and local organizer of Golden Dawn, an extreme political grouping that rose to prominence during Greece’s economic crisis after 2010. The murder sparked widespread protests and led to a major law enforcement and judicial crackdown on Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avgi), culminating in the felony convictions against the party’s leadership in 2020. The latter were found guilty of establishing and running a criminal organization, with many of its key members sentenced to lengthy (by modern Greek standards) prison terms. The case cemented Fyssas’ legacy as a contemporary “political martyr” of the Greek left.
Annual remembrance
Every year on Sept. 18, Fyssas is remembered with commemorative events and protests across Greece, but mostly in Athens and Piraeus.
On the ocassion of the eight years since the murder of Pavlos Fyssas (also known by the nickname “Killah P” ), anti-fascist groups organise a demonstration in Keratsini, Athens, Greece, September 18, 2021.
In Keratsini, the municipality where the murder occurred, the main gathering is planned for Wednesday, marking the 11th anniversary of his death.
Today’s memorial events are expected to begin in the early afternoon and last into the evening. A protest march is scheduled to take place in the Keratsini area, which could lead to significant disruptions in public transportation and road traffic.
Local authorities have announced that certain streets in north of Piraeus will be closed off for the duration of the march, and buses will be rerouted to avoid the main demonstration areas.
A large police presence is usually fielded to ensure the safety of participants and prevent any potential clashes with political opponents, although in recent years such incidents are rare.
