Young Blood: Solidarity with Greece

WHEN IT IS 38 degrees in the sun, not much stirs in the centre of Athens. But on 24 August 10,000 mainly young, male migrant workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan took to the streets after months of escalating attacks by racists and fascists.
Joining this demonstration was the highlight of REVOLUTION’s recent international solidarity visit. We distributed hundreds of copies of our paper and leaflet calling for the coordination of international action to oppose crisis and austerity.
Over the days we were there we saw plenty to expose the foul lies spread by the millionaire media to discredit the Greek people. There’s no doubt that a social catastrophe is emerging in Greece. HIV rates have shot up nearly 1,500% in a year as social programmes have been stripped to the bone.
Many Greeks are preparing for a “hot autumn” of mass strikes and protests – and with the German banks refusing to negotiate on the terms of the next bailout, it looks like resistance is inevitable.
But Greece is just the weakest link the Eurozone chain that is breaking in Italy, Spain and Portugal. It’s obvious that the crisis which started in 2008 was not solved by pouring billions of euros into the banks. Neither has it been solved by throwing millions of workers out of their jobs.
The next European Social Forum will be held this November in Florence, Italy. There has been no better chance since 2008 to make and win the argument for coordinated EU-wide resistance.
REVOLUTION has published an Appeal for a Youth Assembly to take place at the ESF. Young people are on the frontlines of opposition to cuts in every country – we want to ensure our experiences and tactics can be combined in a democratic debate.
By getting the widest possible representation from youth struggles across the continent, we hope to win a call for a European day of action and the creation of structures to link up and coordinate regular joint action.
Sign the appeal and find out more about REVOLUTION here