Greece Launches the ‘Movement in the Squares;’ Worldwide Rallies Planned for Feb. 15

As the euro area finance ministers gathered in Brussels Wednesday for the Eurogroup meeting, in which they hoped to get Greece to sign an extension of the genocidal loan agreement, tens of thousands of supporters all over Europe demonstrated, to show support to the Greek government. According to a Canada-based Greek activist, the call has now gone out, for rallies worldwide on Sunday, Feb. 15, the day before the next Euro finance ministers’ session.

In Greece, pro-government rallies were held all over the nation, despite freezing weather. Though the English-language Greek media speak of “more than 10,000” demonstrators in Athens, the photographs show the entire Syntagma Square filled, which easily means 50-100,000 people. In Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, more than 10,000 took part. Tens of thousands rallied in many other cities. Slogans included “Breath of Dignity” and “No Step Back.”

On his Twitter account, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras wrote:

“In cities around Greece and Europe, the people are battling for negotiations!”

In Athens, government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis commented that the Greek people have given birth to the new “movement in the squares” and support the government efforts against poverty and unemployment.

“Hope has driven fear away,” he said.

Rallies were held throughout Europe: Four rallies were held in Portugal, five in Italy, one in Spain, three in France, as well as rallies in Cyprus, Germany, Belgium, U.K., plus New York and Brazil. Cities in Europe included, at least, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, London, Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Lausanne, Rome, Lisbon, Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Budapest, Madrid, and Helsinki.

LPAC organizers in New York.

In Ireland, Gerry Adams spoke at the Sinn Fein demonstration in front of Leinster House, the parliament in Dublin, in solidarity with Syriza. He castigated the Irish government for refusing to back a European debt conference. “It’s obvious that the Government know who they’re in bed with—the elites, and they’re not going to get out of that bed.”

LaRouche movement organizers attended the rallies in Paris, Berlin, and New York.