Glyfada: Eviction of family with cancer patient and baby sparks tension

Tension flared up on Wednesday morning (November 12th) on Chios Street in Glyfada during the attempted eviction of a four-member family dealing with serious health problems. Police forces and a court bailiff arrived at the scene, while citizens gathered in support of the family, trying to prevent the eviction.

The family consists of a mother and father (the father having suffered a stroke), their daughter (a cancer patient), and her infant child. The family claims they had been making regular payments on their loan and had repaid more than half of it until the daughter was diagnosed with cancer. At that point, they lost control of their payments, as the father — who is the only one able to work — struggles to do so due to the aftereffects of his stroke.

“We are here once again on Chios Street in Glyfada, representing the People’s Rally of Glyfada, along with other neighbors and local organizations, to prevent the vultures from evicting a working-class family with a cancer patient, health issues, and an infant child,” said Alexis Stefanidis, leader of the People’s Rally of Glyfada and municipal councilor. “The police, along with court bailiffs, are carrying out the anti-people orders of this and previous governments, acting as representatives of the company and throwing a family out on the street.”

“We tell them we won’t allow it. Not only have they come to evict them, but they’ve brought heavily armed police in the early hours, as if we are terrorists. Not only that, but the court bailiff physically assaulted someone. They are using violence in a state that is violent toward our people’s needs. We say that the people’s punishment will not allow this. Organized struggle, solidarity, and collective action will be a wall against this barbaric policy. Their reflexes are quick when it comes to evicting people, but not when it comes to protecting them. We declare that the house on Chios Street is also our house,” he added.