Thousands of demonstrators poured into the streets of central Athens on Tuesday night to protest U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit, voicing anger over the U.S. wars in the Middle East and beyond.
Rubio arrived in Athens late Tuesday for a trip intended to deepen bilateral partnership on "key Administration priorities, including defense cooperation and regional and energy security," according to the U.S. Department of State. His visit drew fierce backlash from Greeks who believe it would bind their country ever closer to wars.
Demonstrators from trade associations and labor unions hoisted banners reading "Close the U.S. military bases," "No to imperialist wars that breed poverty and refugees" and "Rubio not welcome." Palestinian and Cuban flags flew above the crowd as protesters chanted anti-war slogans, condemning U.S. wars in the Middle East, its blockade of Cuba and backing of Israel's occupation of Palestine. They also demanded that Greece close its NATO bases and keep the country out of U.S. and NATO military operations.
"[We came here] to demonstrate against the visit of Marco Rubio, who is coming to Greece to make more difficult the days of the Greek people, because he wants to make conferences with our government, to bound Greece near the war, this active war which is taking place from Ukraine to the Middle East," one of the protesters told China Central Television.
"All our syndicates are against what is now the United States with Israel, the genocide they make in the Middle East against the Palestinian people day by day. They're murderers, really murderers. And at the same time, we are against the what the the government of the United States wants to do with the Cuban people. We give our solidarity to the struggle of the Cuban people, to keep their rights for socialism," she said.
The march, which began from the iconic Syntagma Square in the heart of the Greek capital, was unable to reach its destination at the U.S. Embassy after police blocked the route, triggering a lengthy standoff between demonstrators and officers.
A heavy police presence was deployed at the scene. With the route sealed off, the crowd could not deliver its protest to the gates of the U.S. mission, causing traffic in central Athens to come to a halt.
Thousands of Greek protesters rally against Rubio's visit amid anti-war outcry
