Thousands marched through central Athens on Monday, November 17, to mark the anniversary of the 1973 Polytechnic Uprising, concluding three days of commemorative and remembrance events at the National Technical University of Athens.
Commemorative speeches were delivered earlier at the historic campus, where the gates had opened on Saturday for documentary screenings and lectures on key figures of the uprising.
Students and university associations visited throughout the weekend. The gates reopened Monday at 09:00 and are scheduled to close at 13:00, when the annual march to the US Embassy will begin.
The blood-stained flag carried by student protesters during the anti-dictatorship revolt led the march after joining the main procession.
During the roll call, organisers announced plans to erect a bust honouring Giannis Kailis, an art student considered the “25th victim” of the uprising.
Student groups and party youth organisations converged on the city centre from separate gathering points.
More than 5,000 police officers were deployed along the route, with authorities using drones for surveillance and reporting four arrests and 27 detentions during preventive checks.
Political leaders, including President of the Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas and Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis, laid wreaths earlier in the day.
Several metro stations, including Omonia, Syntagma, Evangelismos, Megaro Mousikis and Panepistimio, were closed on police orders, with additional closures set for 14:00.
Bus and traffic restrictions remained in place as security tightened across downtown Athens.
