Supporters of far right Golden Dawn party rally to protest jailing of leaders

Published December 09, 2015

Supporters of the extreme right party Golden Dawn hold a giant Greek flag decorated with the party's symbol during a protest in front of the Parliament, in Athens on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013. About two thousand supporters of Golden dawn gathered in front of the Greek parliament to protest against the imprisonment of the party's leader and two other lawmakers charged with participating in a criminal organization. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis) (The Associated Press)

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Supporters of the extreme right party Golden Dawn shout slogans during a protest in front of the Parliament, in Athens on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013. About two thousand supporters of Golden dawn gathered in front of the Greek parliament to protest against the imprisonment of the party's leader and two other lawmakers charged with participating in a criminal organization. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis) (The Associated Press)

A child shouts slogans along with supporters of the extreme right party Golden Dawn, during a protest in front of the Parliament, in Athens on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013. About two thousand supporters of Golden dawn gathered in front of the Greek parliament to protest against the imprisonment of the party's leader and two other lawmakers charged with participating in a criminal organization. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis) (The Associated Press)

Around 1,000 supporters of the far-right Golden Dawn party have gathered outside Greece's parliament to protest the jailing of its leader and two other lawmakers.

Several Golden Dawn lawmakers spoke to the enthusiastic but smaller-than-expected crowd, some of whom carried torches. The crowd chanted slogans in favor of party leader Nikos Michaloliakos and against Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

Two smaller, rival gatherings of leftist activists in Athens, meanwhile, dispersed peacefully. Police had mobilized to prevent the leftists and the Golden Dawn backers from clashing.

Michaloliakos and two other Golden Dawn lawmakers were detained following the September death of a leftist rapper; a party supporter confessed to the killing. They face charges related to involvement in a criminal group.

The far-right party's popularity rose in recent years as Greece's economy plummeted.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/supporters-of-far-right-golden-dawn-party-rally-to-protest-jailing-of-leaders