On 18 September, it was one year since the murder of rapper Pavlos Fyssas by Golden Dawner George Roupakis. The anniversary was marked in the central Syntagma Square in Athens with a concert involving dozens of singers and groups.
From early afternoon, young people and members of anti-fascist and anti-racist organizations gathered around the stage on which there was a huge poster with a picture of Pavlos Fyssas and a verse of his song "They will not frighten me."
The concert was guarded by dozens of riot forces members who were deployed in the surrounding streets.
On Thursday, the anniversary was marked with a protest rally organized by the "We do not forget" group that involves the victim’s family and friends.
Over 4,000 people, including many relatives of Fyssas, held a rally on Panai Tsaldari street in the neighbourhood of Keratsini where the rapper left his last breath having being stabbed by the Golden Dawner. A bas-relief and memorial were put there, which were uncovered by the rapper’s family.
His mother put flowers at the memorial with the words, "Thank you for being our child. Thank you for coming with us," and his father added, "We are here to stop fascism and everything that creates it. Pavlos rests in the Elysian Fields" (according to Greek mythology, they are a part of the afterlife where the souls of heroes and winners live in a state of bliss – author’s note).
An artistic performance and procession to the square of World Peace in Korydallos neighbourhood followed where the participants released into the air thousands of colourful balloons.
The procession did not take place peacefully. A group of young people dressed in black and with covered faces threw Molotov petrol bombs and stones at the riot forces members, causing serious damage to the local customer service centre and the surrounding shops.
The police responded with tear gas and managed to disperse the group of about 500 troublemakers, and apprehended 64 people during the clashes.
Less than a month after the murder of Fyssas the Greek police apprehended his physical killer, George Roupakis and the leadership of Golden Dawn. Currently they are in custody on charges of organizing and leading a criminal group. The trial has not yet been scheduled, but it should start by March 2015, when the legal deadline for the 18-month duration of detention expires.