I moved back to Greece in October 1973 with my parents after living in Canada for 7 years. I was looking forward to returning to my country of origin.
We landed in Athens in the early morning. Of course there was no way I could sleep the first day. My father and I went downtown to have a coffee at the Syntagma Square in front of the Parliament building. Suddenly we heard some yelling and singing coming from one of the streets. We got up to see what was going on and walked right into a demonstration against the Junta governing Greece at the time. Whoa! What a way to be welcomed!
I had a keen interest in the anti-war demonstrations in America from a very young age. I was very aware of political protest and violence. I saw the shootings in Kent State and the riots surrounding the ‘68 Democratic Party convention in Chicago on television, as well as the ’68 Olympics and the Black Power salute given by some American Athletes when receiving their gold medals on the podium. So here I was in the middle of this spontaneous eruption of protest in my own country. Tear gas, baton wielding police and demonstrations right before my eyes. I found it exhilarating. From that moment I knew that I wanted to be involved.