Greece braces for 17 November protests

Athens, 17 November 2014 (MIA) - Greece braces for major protests on Monday evening, over the 41st anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising - when students protesting the military junta suffered a brutal crackdown that killed dozens.

The protests, that began early afternoon in Athens, are moving toward the American Embassy. Greeks see the US as supportive of the military junta, in effort to prevent a Communist take-over of the country.

Greek authorities have placed thousands of policemen across the capital, and in other major cities, and extraordinary traffic measures, including closures of metro stations, are in place. Police presence is strongest in front of Government buildings in the center of Athens.

- The Polytechnic Uprising is an event in Greek history whose significance grows over time. We need more examples that show that social liberation comes with struggle, and that there is nothing more powerful than passion for freedom and liberty, Greek President Karolos Papoulias writes in his remarks on the anniversary of the brutal crackdown.