'On March 25, in northern Halkidiki, several people gathered in the town square, after the march by students of the Ierissos Gymnasium High School, wearing black armbands and raising clenched fists in front of an empty podium.

At least 2500 residents of Ierissos formed a 15km convoy of cars and headed for the Great Lady. There, they marched to denounce gold mining operations on their mountain by the Greek mega corporation, Aktor and Canadian Eldorado Gold, who use employees and local riot police as mercenaries against the local community.

The entrance to the mountain was cordoned off by riot police, who protect the occupation of the mountain for private corporations at the taxpayer’s expense. The riot police responded to the peaceful protesters with tear gas and by firing rubber bullets at the crowd, despite the presence of the elderly, women and children.'

Read more: The Ierissos Resistance