Dimitra-Dora Teloni and Regina Mantanika The response of the movements Delivered by Ingenta IP : 94.67.166.95 On: Thu, 17 Oct 2019 07:25:18 Copyright The Policy Press Solidarity networks and the anti-racist movement In the Greek case, there has been resistance to the above-described anti-immigration policies dominant in the neoliberal context of the EU and Greece. It is beyond the scope of this article to analyse in full the initiatives taken by both the main political parties (left-wing parties, for example) as well as the anti-racist and anti-fascist movements. Still, a description of some of the basic elements of the response will hopefully complete the picture of the Greek context. In particular, the anti-racist movement constitutes an interesting approach for social and political action. In terms of the main political arena, left-wing parties have been generally supportive of anti-racism, through a direct or indirect connection with the movements. In addition, over the last decade, dozens of initiatives have contributed to the formation of a strong anti-racist movement in Greece. In the ‘No to racism from the cradle’ campaign, established in 2005 by the United African Women Organisation in Greece (www.africanwomen.gr/?cat=5), anti-racist and feminist organisations demanded for the first time the rights of children of second-generation immigrants.The campaign used speeches, videos, demonstrations, media articles, petitions, coalitions with other organisations and unions, and interventions in the Greek Parliament.After campaigning for a number of years, some of their demands were included in legislation in 2010 (http://allhleggyh.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/kounia-nomosxedio/#more-279). In parallel, dozens of anti-racist organisations and initiatives have been set up (www. enallaktikos.gr/kg15el_antiratsistikes-antifasistikes-organwseis-festival_t102.html), while in recent years the number of anti-fascist organisations has grown, as will be discussed below. The anti-racist movement has engaged on a number of diverse levels: • • • • • Through collective action and in coalition with other organisations, it pressurises political parties and other groups for the rights of immigrants/refugees. It challenges the repressive policies of the Greek state and the EU and, more importantly, includes in its analysis the impact of these policies in violating human rights. In 2008, the anti-racist network of organisations started to register racist attacks on immigrants11 – a gap identified by Pavlou (2007) – and it denounced all repressive or racist incidents.The registration of racist incidents was later adopted by non-governmental organisations. It has proposed specific measures and structures such as Open Centres for Refugees, which are the direct opposite of the idea behind the detention centres that the government has set up and which have resulted in a systematic abuse of human rights. It has developed grassroots welfare activity in the community. This has been achieved either through the provision of food, medical help and support in the refugee camps (Patras, Igoumenitsa) or through other structures such as the Greek school for immigrants, language school, legal advice from lawyers and so on. 194