What happened to the anti-fascist April 1st in Limassol
On March 19, the neo-Nazi groups Fratria, Reconquista, Youth Resistance, and Paphos Nationalist Youth call for an “annual march” on April 1, 6:30 PM, from the Agios Nikolaos roundabout to the Grivas monument, attempting to repeat their march last year.
On March 26th , we announce a “Special Assembly Against Neo-Nazis” gathering in the park of Agios Nikolaos, at the monument to Fallen Resistance Fighters. Exactly between their pre-gathering and the Grivas monument. The clear aim was to block their path and cancel their march.
We are publishing a text-call and a video explaining the neo-Nazi nature of these groups and the need for resistance. The neo-Nazis are immediately locking down all the accounts they had open. The neo-Nazis are in a panic, asking for support from other fascists and trying to see what plan they can come up with with the help of the police.
On April 1st, the “war-loving males” announced at 5:30 PM that their “pre-gathering” would be transferred directly “to the Grivas monument”, definitively canceling their march and the point they had called. There at the monument it became clear that they were in pre-arrangement with the M.M.A.D. (special anti riots cops)who were waiting for them and were in communication the entire time. After some hour of gathering inside their fenced-off monument, over 100 neo-Nazis packed up and left on a “march” to their car park in the opposite direction outside the Agios Nikolaos neighborhood.
The anti-fascist gathering came to the park en masse and under guard at 6:00 PM. We had over 100 people, with the presence of the neighborhood and anti-fascists from other groups and a lot of momentum against the neo-Nazis and their state. We left after the fascists left the area.
With the anti-fascist rally, we debunked the fascist fear they are promoting and broke the apathy and indifference that tolerates it. Their march to Agios Nikolaos was something that, normally due to the history of the neighborhood and the city, they should not have been able to do, which is why we were able to stop it. However, the fact that so many dozens of Nazis gathered, even at the “monument”, is a problem that can be answered with permanent structures to deal with the phenomenon and time with a more dynamic presence with more local and social participation.
Due to a lack of dignity and a need to manipulate their “followers”, in their announcements after April 1st, they behaved as if nothing had happened, continuing to sell the caricature of the mysterious warrior. However, apart from social media, things are also judged on the street.
LIMASSOL ANTI-FASCIST CITY
AGAINST THE STATE AND NEONAZIS
*The night before the anti-fascist rally in Agios Nikolaos, the election offices of the fascist party ELAM were broken into, while for two consecutive nights after the rally, burning barricades were set up in the same area.
*Slogans were shouted at the rally for comrades Kyriakos Xymitiris and Nikos Romanos.
*At the end of the rally, when the M.M.A.D. squads(anti-riot cops) went to follow the people, they were met with firecrackers that stopped them, giving the people space to leave without pressure.
Translated by Act for freedom now!