Anti-Bush riot in the heart of the Olympics

[Renew Deal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38950-2004Aug27.html

ATHENS, Greece - Police used tear gas Friday night to disperse more than 2,000 demonstrators who lit fires, smashed windows and beat up journalists while marching through downtown Athens to protest the weekend visit of Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The demonstrators, who scuffled with police in front of the Parliament, fought running battles with riot squads trying to prevent them from reaching the U.S. Embassy. The embassy is not near any Olympic venues, but it is near the hotel being used by the International Olympic Committee and located on a major Olympic traffic lane.
<snip>

The protesters marched in front of Athens University, beating drums, spraying graffiti on the walls and unfurling banners criticizing President Bush.

"Powell is the man who peddled Bush's lies on Iraq," said protest organizer, Yiannis Sifahakis. "He is a murderer and we don't want him here."
<snip>

Among those who joined in before the violence broke out was Andrea Murray, 22, who graduated from Duke University in North Carolina. She said she was looking for Athens' National Museum and instead found the demonstration.

"I found this and I thought, like wow! I am participating because I am American and I want Greeks to know that not all Americans are drones or idiots," Murray said.
<snip>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38950-2004Aug27.html

Syntagma Square is a high traffic, major tourist center. :wow:

[leftchick]

1. I can't wait to see this covered tonight on the nightly news...

oops for a second I went and thought the US media actually covered real news... :eyes:

[obnoxiousdrunk]

2. No way we have

Amber frey's phone calls to cover and Kobe's underwear.

[lapfog_1]

3. Ms. Murray better be careful

Participating in a "riot" against SecState could be considered
an act of terrorism and she may be deemed an "enemy combatant" and
find herself taken directly from Athens to Gitmo.

They are so close to being fascists that this is not an outlandish
statement. Especially if she was filmed at the "riot" and was
arrested by Greek police.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

4. Please tell me you're kidding...

First off, protests ARE NOT riots. Protests turn into riot (sometimes) due to heavy-handed police action. I have seen video of the so-called riots, and it's clear that the protesters were not rioting.

JB

[lapfog_1]

5. I'm being only a little sarcastic

But... you're wrong. CNN just called it a "riot", not a protest.
Windows were broken, damage was done.

All I'm saying is that it would NOT be hard for the BFEE to
go that extra step and start calling people like her "terrorists".
I've already heard that used about the AIDS demonstrators by
RW nutjobs. See, everyone who doesn't either sit home and whine
(like me) or isn't in full agreement with them (freepers) might
just be a terrorist!

Especially if they are caught on film doing something in a riot.

Think it can't happen? I think it can. I'm not saying that it
IS happening, just that we aren't all that far away.

I remember the sixties and the REAL riots. Think if something
like that was happening NOW that the rioters would not be
branded as terrorists? I think they would, and further, I think
they would be arrested and detained without access to media,
lawyers or a trial.

[leesa]

6. And we believe CNN's unbiased perception of events, don't we?

[lapfog_1]

7. NO!

of course not.

But some broken glass and some protesters can be made to
LOOK like rioters and labeled as such. Once the label is
on... middle America that gets it's news spoon fed by FOX
and CNN can believe that these are anarchists and terrorists!

Look, I'm not saying that's what they are or what's happening,
all I'm saying is that the public can be manipulated. And from
there, it's a small step to where someone LIKE her could be
detained as a "terrorist".

[fob]

8. I think what leapfrog is saying is, are YOU willing to take a chance with

the bush* administration as the arbiter of who is an "enemy combatant"?

I'd say leapfrog is on solid ground here to be concerned for the young woman.

[lapfog_1]

10. Yup

That's what I'm sayin.

And it's lapfog. I'm in SF Bay Area (hence the fog).

[SpiralHawk]

9. Move along

There is nothing to see here.

Adjust your videoinput units immediately to receive the Faux news channel, and catch the latest on the Scott Peterson trial. There will be important Breaking Nes on this, we assure you.

I repeat, there is nothing to see here. On the bright side, Choco rations will be increased 2 mg. per Family Values Unit after our Beloved Bush is Unanimously Re-Appointed in November.

Always remember, Big BushCo Loves you.

Move along.