1 00:00:00,300 --> 00:00:02,840 While in Greece in the summer of 2017, 2 00:00:02,995 --> 00:00:08,236 Unicorn Riot was invited to visit the assembly of The House of Women for Empowerment and Emancipation. 3 00:00:08,900 --> 00:00:12,026 Inside of the squatted and self-managed Embros Theater in Athens, 4 00:00:12,415 --> 00:00:17,680 we spoke with Xara and Iris about their feminist, anti-fascist and anti-racist assembly 5 00:00:17,900 --> 00:00:21,555 and how they are creating networks of solidarity and mutual aid 6 00:00:21,593 --> 00:00:26,000 to women refugees and migrants locked inside detention centers in Greece. 7 00:00:26,700 --> 00:00:37,100 Xara: So, this network is with other comrades from other collectives such as the social clinics. 8 00:00:38,077 --> 00:00:45,000 We stand by each other. We try, we are not very many but we try our best. 9 00:00:45,050 --> 00:00:51,700 Sometimes we share, some go there, and some others go here. 10 00:00:52,305 --> 00:00:59,990 We have started learning from these women, trying to be with them, to stand by them, 11 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:07,200 by the detainees in police detention centers. 12 00:01:07,405 --> 00:01:12,922 Women who come, refugees from war, or migrants, 13 00:01:14,700 --> 00:01:22,882 who are imprisoned and they are treated like criminals because they don't have legally issued papers. 14 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:25,335 And this is not their fault. 15 00:01:25,550 --> 00:01:31,291 Iris: [Speaking Greek] 16 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:36,805 Xara: Iris says that - Because we regularly go and visit them 17 00:01:36,890 --> 00:01:42,300 in the detention, the hellhole, police detention center for aliens, 18 00:01:42,500 --> 00:01:47,200 sometimes you see them and you think, you have the feeling 19 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,705 that they just came out of their living rooms. 20 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:53,000 Iris: It is awful. 21 00:01:54,755 --> 00:01:58,055 Xara: It is awful says Iris, because they have nothing anymore. 22 00:01:58,860 --> 00:02:01,490 They have lost everything. 23 00:02:02,095 --> 00:02:07,759 They cannot afford to have a lawyer, because certain lawyers go there 24 00:02:08,550 --> 00:02:12,080 and they disappear, they get all the money they have. 25 00:02:12,700 --> 00:02:16,836 So, when we see them, they keep asking us, 26 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:23,400 "Why are we here? Tell us why we are here? We haven't done anything." 27 00:02:23,685 --> 00:02:26,563 They are helpless. 28 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:29,900 And it is not their fault. 29 00:02:31,185 --> 00:02:35,555 We feel we have to do it because we feel ashamed about the system. 30 00:02:36,185 --> 00:02:42,655 Iris: [Speaking Greek] 31 00:02:43,285 --> 00:02:48,535 Xara: Iris says that, yes, we could be at their position, 32 00:02:48,785 --> 00:02:55,255 we feel we are all one, at one line, level. 33 00:02:56,285 --> 00:03:03,655 Nobody's inferior. Iris: [Speaking Greek] 34 00:03:04,105 --> 00:03:09,655 Xara translates Iris: We don't help, we exist together. We are together. 35 00:03:10,385 --> 00:03:16,195 Xara: We have been happy to be able to have some of them outside 36 00:03:16,585 --> 00:03:18,805 and to keep this relationship. 37 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,855 We keep it because they come out and they don't have [any]where to go. 38 00:03:25,185 --> 00:03:28,805 So, there are places, there are people. 39 00:03:29,159 --> 00:03:36,532 They [detainees] have crisis, panic crisis, they need the right psychotherapy. 40 00:03:36,985 --> 00:03:43,456 The right one, because there [in the detention center], they give them psychiatric pills, 41 00:03:45,285 --> 00:03:49,805 very rarely, but so many that they can sleep. 42 00:03:50,585 --> 00:03:51,905 They can only sleep. 43 00:03:53,085 --> 00:03:59,105 Nothing is provided by the State, by the police. 44 00:04:00,085 --> 00:04:04,200 They are begging for a painkiller, or 45 00:04:05,585 --> 00:04:12,060 for toilet paper. They beg to go to the doctor. 46 00:04:14,385 --> 00:04:17,700 And some of them have tried to commit suicide. 47 00:04:20,085 --> 00:04:24,400 So, we feel equally responsible. 48 00:04:24,485 --> 00:04:33,923 We cannot wait for the revolution to happen to be active. 49 00:04:35,185 --> 00:04:41,200 It is very important for us to get together, to have our assemblies. 50 00:04:41,485 --> 00:04:50,100 And to do things with people who fight against patriarchy, who fight against capitalism. 51 00:04:50,785 --> 00:04:55,230 To act against this rotten system. 52 00:04:55,500 --> 00:04:58,750 Our comrades are from all sexes. 53 00:04:59,105 --> 00:05:04,487 But, they cannot be macho men, fascists, and all this. 54 00:05:04,905 --> 00:05:11,050 Fascists men and women, because you can everything in every sex. 55 00:05:11,505 --> 00:05:13,588 Iris: [Speaking Greek] Xara translating: I'm an actress. 56 00:05:13,705 --> 00:05:21,715 Iris: [Speaking Greek] Xara translating: And I participate in Embros [Theater] assembly. 57 00:05:21,905 --> 00:05:23,308 Embros is a squat. Iris: Yes. 58 00:05:23,505 --> 00:05:27,650 Iris: [Speaking Greek] Xara translating: And this is very important for me 59 00:05:27,705 --> 00:05:33,559 because I want to act and act in a free theater. 60 00:05:33,905 --> 00:05:38,559 Iris: [Speaking Greek] Xara translating: Also, I am in The House of Women 61 00:05:38,805 --> 00:05:43,135 Iris: [Speaking Greek] Xara translating: that fights against patriarchy, 62 00:05:43,306 --> 00:05:48,700 Iris: [Speaking Greek] Xara translating: which is something that is very important for me. 63 00:05:49,505 --> 00:06:01,250 Iris: [Speaking Greek] Xara translating: Because this is something I ask and I fight not to happen in theater as well. 64 00:06:01,305 --> 00:06:08,650 Iris: [Speaking Greek] Xara translating: There is heirarchy, sexism in theater. 65 00:06:08,905 --> 00:06:19,450 Iris: [Speaking Greek] Xara translating: And all these behaviors which create the culture of rape. 66 00:06:20,005 --> 00:06:28,050 Xara: We have to be re-educated, self-educated, 67 00:06:28,405 --> 00:06:35,350 to educate each other everytime we realize that, oop, oop, you said something wrong, whats happening. 68 00:06:38,845 --> 00:06:42,400 Iris: Here and now, we do what we can do. 69 00:06:42,420 --> 00:06:45,400 Xara: Yes, we do what we can do, here and now.