The Indelible Bonobo Experience

While the Paralympic Games begin today in London, in Athens, the ultra-right Golden Dawn party, is promoting hate-attacks against people with disabilities and homosexuals, having already targeted immigrants and ethnic minorities, says one UK commentator. In this atmosphere, which echoes the rise of Nazism in Germany, the Greek government and EU are turning a blind eye. (via 21st century Nazis | Presseurop (English), ind)

• “After the immigrants, you’re next.” That’s what was written on flyers that appeared this week in the gay clubbing district of Athens. As violence against immigrants and ethnic minorities escalates across Greece, supporters of the ultra-right Golden Dawn party have also begun to promote hate attacks on homosexuals and people with disabilities.
• These fascists march with black shirts and flares through Athens, terrorising ethnic and sexual minorities, waving an insignia which looks like nothing but an unravelled swastika, and declaring disdain for the political process. And yet, across Europe, they continue to be treated as a mere symptom of Greece’s economic crisis.
• Once, right-wing thugs only came out to attack immigrants at night. Now they do so in daylight, unafraid of the consequences because there rarely are any. In recent weeks, the number and severity of the attacks have increased, and if migrants report attacks to police, they risk being arrested.
• Not only are crimes against immigrants in Greece considered low priority, much of Golden Dawn’s support base comes from police ranks. Exit polls in the May 2012 elections suggested that in some urban districts up to 50 per cent of Greek police voted for the racist group, which now holds 7 per cent of the seats in parliament.