Pavlos Fyssas (1979 - 2013)

Tue Apr 10, 1979

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Image: Pavlos Fyssas, giving a performance on June 21st, 2011. Photo credit: John D. Carnessiotis [Wikipedia]

Pavlos Fyssas, born on this day in 1979, was a Greek anti-fascist rapper who was killed by members of the fascist group Golden Dawn.

Fyssas, also known as “Killah P” (“Killer of the Past”), came from a working class family. He and his father were both members of the Piraeus metal union. Pavlos had been active hip hop since 1997 and is well-known for his left-wing, anti-fascist lyrics.

On September 17th, 2013, Fyssas was fatally stabbed by Giorgios Roupakias, a member and employee of the neo-fascist party Golden Dawn. Following his death, there were a series of protests and rallies against Golden Dawn throughout Europe.

During one protest in Athens, attended by 2,500-10,000 people, anti-fascists marched towards Golden Dawn’s central offices and were arrested and beaten by police. On November 1st, 2013, a shooting took place at the Golden Dawn’s Neo Irakleio offices in Athens, killing two members.

In October 2020, sixty-eight members of Golden Dawn were declared part of a criminal organization, and fifteen were convicted in charges relating to Pavlos’ murder.

When asked about Pavlos’ character by Al Jazeera, his mother stated “You’re asking a mother about what kind of a person her son was. He was a free man.”

"The world has become a big prison

and I’m looking for a way to break the chains.

…

Let them come and find me at the mountain top, I’m waiting for them and I will not bother with fear."

  • Pavlos Fyssas