YCL-LJC Central Executive Committee, 4 October 2021

The Young Communist League of Canada – Ligue de la jeunesse communiste du Canada is appalled to hear of the recent violent attacks by fascists against members of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) and Communist Party of Greece (KKE).

Last week in Thessaloniki, a large gang of fascists armed with knives, guns, and baseball bats attacked a group of communists promoting an anti-fascist gathering, which is set to take place on October 9. This armed gang attacked children and adults indiscriminately, and injured at least four communists. 

These attacks come mere weeks after the eighth anniversary of the murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas, whose Golden Dawn killers were not charged until last year. Despite the Greek courts deeming Golden Dawn an illegal criminal group last year, much of its membership continues to organize under other names. This also comes just days after KNE successfully held its 47th Odigitis Festival. It is clear that with the growth and strengthening of the communist youth worldwide, and in Greece in particular, reactionary and fascist elements feel increasingly threatened. 

The YCL-LJC is shocked to hear of this news and wishes health and safety to members of the KNE and KKE affected by these attacks. We stand in solidarity with the communists of Greece and know that through mass popular action, fascism and reaction will be crushed once again on Greek soil. We echo the call by the KKE’s Central Committee for the strengthening of young people and workers, and recognize that this attack is not only an attack on communists, but on the Greek youth as a whole.