The new frame law for the functioning of the Universities in Greece was voted on March 8th, 2007, after the decision of the government to start the process in the Parliament despite the public outrage; since students, pupils, teachers and academics have been in an ongoing struggle since May 2006, including occupations of schools and faculties, strikes and demonstrations.

As the state media reported, only the governmental party voted for the new law, while the rest of them decided to leave the room after the preliminary poll. Meanwhile, more than 35,000 students, teachers and academics were demonstrating in the streets of Athens, in order to surround the Parliament.

Demonstrators clashed with the police in front of the Parliament while the air became full of asphyxiating tear gas and rubber bullets were shot for the first time. The march was forced to split into pieces and about 100 demonstrators that happened to be at that place, were segregated and severely beaten by a heavy police force. Several attacks followed, in order to split the rest of the march into smaller pieces, when the school teachers were beaten as well. Individuals had to run away and hide in nearby buildings.

see also:  http://www.all4all.org/2007/03/2981.shtml