STRIKE: December 19th 2008

Hundreds of strikes from Greece to Iraq will be taking place this Friday. Here is the information that we have recieved at VoteStrike.com:

1. SHOE PROTEST AT US EMBASSY

The shoe protest at George Bush's press conference in the   
Baghdad Green by Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi has made   
him a hero across the Middle East. When he shouted at Bush   
"This is for the widows and orphans of Iraq", he expressed   
the unreported feelings of millions in Iraq and beyond that   
the Bush occupation has been a disaster and that it should   
end immediately.

Since the protest Muntadar al-Zaidi has been held in custody   
and according to the BBC has been subject to brutal   
treatment. His brother has said that since his arrest he has   
a broken wrist, broken ribs and internal bleeding.

Stop the War Coalition will be supporting Media Workers   
Against the War when they deliver a protest letter to the US   
Embassy this Friday. We are asking people to join the   
protest and bring shoes to be delivered to the Embassy with   
the letter in solidarity with the Iraqi people.

SHOE PROTEST AT US EMBASSY   
1PM, FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER,   
US EMBASSY, GROSVENOR SQUARE WC1

2. PROTEST THE POLICE STATE

In Thessaloniki, riot police fired tear gas to disperse 300 youths throwing fruit and stones outside the city's main court complex. The disturbance followed a court decision that found eight police officers guilty of abusing a student following riots two years ago.

ATHENS- protesters pushed their way into television and radio studios Tuesday, forcing broadcasters to put out anti-government messages in a change of tactics after days of violent street protests.

A group of about 10 youths got into the studio of NET state television and turned off a broadcast of a speech by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, station officials said. The protesters forced studio cameras to instead show them holding up banners that read: "Stop watching, get out onto the streets," and "Free everyone who has been arrested." No one was hurt, and no arrests were reported.

Protesters are calling for you to "Get off the internet I'll see you in the streets" this Friday. Protests tapped into wider discontent with Karamanlis' conservative government and there have been widespread calls for the government to step down and hold new elections.

Protest began after a 15 year old was murdered by two Special Guards of the Greek police.

For those readers outside of the European continent, especially the US, that do not understand why a cop is accused for "defending himself" from a 15 year old. In Greece possession of a firearm is illegal, use of a firearm is illegal. The only people with arms are the army, the police, hunters (dismantled at all times), and people that can prove to a judge that their life is threatened. CRETE is an exception. If that professional experienced coward cop can prove to the court that his life was threatened by a 15 year old 20 meters away that threw an empty bottle of water way before he was shot then we are doomed as a society.

3. IRAQ RALLY FOR BUSH SHOE ATTACKER