Greek Riots: Protests In Athens,Response To Austerity Bill, Video

by NowPublic Staff | May 6, 2010 at 10:42 am

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Thousands Protest Austerity Measures Imposed By Parliament, EU Bailout

Riot police used pepper spray and tear gas to break up unruly street protests in Athens. Video footage showed police striking some protesters with batons.

Tens of thousand of people to the streets of the Athens Thursday night (local time) to protest the Greek parliament's passing of austerity measures, part of the $140 billion (USD) European Union bailout.

Demonstrators, banging drums and shouting anti-government slogans through loudspeakers, unfurled a giant black banner outside parliament. More than 30,000 demonstrators filled downtown streets, chanting "They declared war. Now fight back."

The protest followed violent street protests on Wednesday that left three people dead after a bank was firebombed.

In parliament, lawmakers voted 172-121 to approve the cuts that will slash pensions and civil servants' pay and further hike consumer taxes.

The austerity measures includes tax hikes and wage rollbacks are widely unpopular.