Hundreds took to the streets of Thessaloniki on Wednesday (February 24) to protest against lockdown restrictions.

The municipality of Kordelio-Evosmos in western Thessaloniki went into lockdown on February 19 after cases of the South Africa strain were detected.

Footage shows protesters marching through the city's streets and chanting anti-lockdown slogans such as "we do not stay home anymore", "it is not a pandemic, it is a mockery" and "160,000 imprisoned for 11 cases."

Greece: Outraged locals in strict lockdown, rally to the streets against the imposed measures after a dozen South African strain cases found in their region. Over a 100.000 population, the municipality of Evosmos-Kordelio in western Thessaloniki was placed under strict lockdown on Friday 19/02/2021 due to an alarming rise in South African mutation coronavirus infections. Hundreds of locals and business owners gathered in the main square outside the town hall on Wednesday afternoon 24/02 and then took to the streets en masse shouting slogans such as "We do not stay home anymore", "It is not a pandemic, it is a mockery", "Down with the junta of the coronavirus" and carrying a banner that read in Greek "160.000 imprisoned for 11 cases" and placards "End this terrorism". Throughout the protest, anti-government slogans were heard targeting Prime Minister Kiriakos Mitsotakis and Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias. As seen in the video, protesters invited other locals who were watching them from the sidewalk or from the balconies to come and participate in the demonstration with some of them respond with applause. This new strict lockdown enforces even harder rules on movement and local business operations.

Shot list
00:00 - 00:06 Residents of Evosmos-Kordelio municipality rally to the streets during the strict lockdown
00:07 - 00:12 "Don't give a f*ck about coronavirus, that the right thing to do"
00:13 - 00:20 "You who are out of the rally, let us all shout out for our freedom"
00:21 - 00:28 drivers honking in support of the anti-lockdown protest
00:29 - 00:43 a young man has taken off his mask while marching, anti-government slogans can be heard in the background
00:44 - 00:57 crowds to the streets most of them without wear masks
00:58 - 01:09 an elderly woman bursts into applause for the anti-lockdown protesters while the rally passing under her balcony
01:10 - 01:16 Anti-covid slogans
01:17 - 01:27 Protesters sing the Greek national anthem
01:28 - 01:35 a placard reads in Greek "No more terrorism"
01:36 - 01:44 main banner reads "160.000 imprisoned for 11 cases"
01:45 - 01:50 "We don't stay at home anymore"
01:51 - 01:56 Rally participants invite other locals who are watching them from the sidewalk to join the march
01:57 - 02:08 "Down with the junta of the coronavirus" and anti-government slogans targeting Greek Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias
02:09 - 02:15 Greek flag hoisted as residents go out on the balconies to watch the protest
02:16 - 02:23 a group of women carrying a Greek flag while chanting to passers-by "You who are out of the rally, let us all shout out for our freedom"
02:24 - 02:52 Greek national anthem and crowds gathered outside the town hall of Evosmos-Kordelio