- Title: USA: GREEK ACTRESS MELINA MERCOURI LEADS PROTEST MARCH TO U.N.
- Date: 12th December 1967
- Summary: 1. LV CANDLELIGHT PARADE 0.03 2. CU MARCHER LIGHTING CANDLE FROM BURNING CANDLE 0.08 3. SV PEOPLE PARADING HOLDING CANDLES 0.11 4. SV MELINA MERCOURI, INTERVIEWED AS SHE WALKS 0.16 5. SV PEOPLE PARADING WITH CANDLES 0.20 6. SCU MELINA MERCOURI, BEING INTERVIEWED 0.30 7. SV PARADE CONTINUES 0.33 8. SCU MELINA MERCOURI 0.46 9. LV U.N. BUILDING (ILLUMINATED BY STREET LIGHTS) 0.51 10. MELINA MERCOURI SPEAKING TO MARCHERS (2 SHOTS) 0.59 Initials ERW/V/AE/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 27th December 1967 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW YORK CITY, USA
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA98SH8OIAP87HIP4RN0VRA9X46
- Story Text: THE GREEK ACTRESS, MELINA MERCOURI, LED A PROTEST MARCH ON SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THE STREETS OF NEW YORK TO THE UNITED NATIONS. ABOUT 1,000 PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM CARRYING CANDLES, JOINED THE MARCH, TO PROTEST AT WHAT THEY SAID IS A LACK OF FREEDOM IN GREECE SINCE THE PRESENT MILITARY JUNTA SEIZED POWER.
THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS DURING THE PARADE, WHICH BEGAN AT THE BUSY INTERSECTION OF 5TH AVENUE AND 42ND STREET, JUST AFTER DARK.
DURING THE MARCH, MISS MERCOURI TOLD REPORTERS THAT GREEKS OF ALL AGES AND ALL PARTIES WERE RESISTING THE MILITARY JUNTA AND PREDICTED THAT EVENTUALLY "THEY WILL WIN".
THE PARADE WAS SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM IN GREECE AND WAS TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH HUMAN RIGHTS DAY.
THE PARADE ENDED IN DAG HAMMERSKJOLD PLAZA, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE UNITED NATIONS BUILDING. MISS MERCOURI TOLD THE CROWD: "TODAY, WE ARE MARKING THE DEATH OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN GREECE." SHE DENOUNCED THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT AS AN "EVIL JUNTA". THE CROWD, MANY HOLDING PLACARDS DEMANDING THE RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS AND FREE ELECTIONS, SHOUTED "DEMOCRATIA".
MISS MERCOURI HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN IN HER CRITICISM OF THE JUNTA WHICH TOOK OVER THE GOVERNMENT DURING THE SUMMER. RECENTLY, HER GREEK CITIZENSHIP WAS REVOKED. TO END THE PARADE, MISS MERCOURI SANG SONGS FROM HER CURRENT SHOW: "ILLYA DARLING".
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