Police bans public gatherings in central Athens to block Golden Dawn food handout
The police has announced a ban on any kind of public gathering in central Athens, from noon to midnight, on Wednesday.
The move came after far right Golden Dawn announced its intention to organize a food handout on the same day marking 39 years since the return of democracy to Greece following the fall of the military dictatorship in 1974.
Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias early on Wednesday referred to Golden Dawn as a “sad modern Greek version of Nazi totalitarianism”.
Golden Dawn was planning a free food handout on Attikis Square on Wednesday. The handout, addressed to Greek citizens only, was due to take place at 6 p.m. Authorities are also concerned that this could lead to clashes with anti-fascist protesters or anarchists.
On Tuesday, Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis issued a statement noting that the party had not been granted permission to hold the event. Golden Dawn insisted it had notified authorities in time and had a right to go ahead with its plans.
