The neo-Nazi party, Golden Dawn,
have terrorised the citizens of Greece
for years. A gang of fascists with tattoos
beat up the left, migrants, LGTB
and scooped up racist votes. Some of the police
were sympathetic. Justice shrugged. Till now.
They knifed Pavlos Fyssas, a hip-hop star,
an anti -fascist from the working class
with tons of fans. Maybe, a step too far.
Two women magistrates for months trawled through
the videos, speeches, documents and blogs.
They’re guarded. Every day they’re getting threats
but it’s their dossier that makes the case.
The female prosecutor sets it out before
the judge, the calmest person in the court.
She sets the tone, refuses to allow
the empty rhetoric of male pride
to grab the microphone. Questions are raised,
the arguments pursued, rogue details clarified.
It takes five years, but then the verdicts come.
Guilty times fifty, lots of years in jail.
Outside is Magda, Pavlos Fyssas’ mum
who screams “Pavlos, you did it!” There’s no doubt.
When men screw up, the women sort it out.
