The Athens Polytechnic uprising was a pivotal protest that emerged from the growing dissatisfaction with the military junta that had ruled Greece since 1967. Starting as a student-led demonstration, the protest quickly attracted a wide array of participants, including workers and intellectuals, who were united in their demand for the restoration of democracy and the end of authoritarian practices. The Polytechnic Institute in Athens became the focal point for resistance as students organized strikes and sit-ins, calling for political freedoms and social justice. The situation escalated as demonstrators declared the campus a 'free area' in defiance of the military regime.

On November 17, the junta responded with brutal force, dispatching military tanks to the Polytechnic, leading to clashes that left several dead and many wounded. The tragic events highlighted the regime's oppressive nature and its willingness to use violence against its own citizens. The uprising was marked by the famous call of the protesters, “We will not surrender,” signifying the determination of the youth against dictatorship. The violent suppression of the revolt garnered national and international condemnation, emphasizing the urgency for reform in Greece.

The uprising not only galvanized public sentiment against the military dictatorship but also laid the groundwork for the eventual fall of the junta in 1974. This period of civil unrest served as a catalyst for democracy and is commemorated each year in Greece, symbolizing the struggle for freedom and human rights.