Thousands took to the streets of Athens Friday night, days ahead of a planned referendum in Greece, with citizens protesting both for and against a crucial vote on how the country will pay back its debts.
It will ask Greeks to decide whether or not they support the bailout demands of the country's creditors.
In addition, while the referendum won't actually make reference to Greece leaving the eurozone, many fear it may lead to that outcome.
Large crowds of anti-austerity protesters gathered in Syntagma Square to support the Greek government’s call for a "No" vote in Sunday’s referendum, chanting the Greek word "Oxi."
Friday was the final day of campaigning before voters hit the polls to decide if Greece will accept creditors' demands for more austerity in return for bailout loans.
Meanwhile back at the no rally I climbed scaffolding to take this #oxi #Syntagma #Greferendum pic.twitter.com/1wfSLymLo6— Omaira Gill (@OmairaGill) July 3, 2015
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke to thousands gathered in support of the "no" vote, and told them that Sunday's decision is about living "in Europe with dignity."
He said Greeks wants Europe to return to its core values, which it has sidelined for the sake of "dead-end" austerity programs.
Tsipras added that Greece won't abandon Europe "in the hands of those who want to drag her away from her democratic traditions."
Greeks "have justice on our side, and we will win," he said, urging voters to ignore scaremongers, and to remain united no matter the outcome.
I've stood on this roof a few times over the years - and this is as big a crowd as I can remember. #oxi #greece pic.twitter.com/1vzUlEd2FH— Mark Lowen (@marklowen) July 3, 2015
Elsewhere in Athens, supporters of a "yes" vote in the referendum also protested, demanding that Greece accept the terms laid out by the International Monetary Fund for more money to address the country's financial crisis. The slightly smaller group gathered outside the nearby Panathenian stadium.
Those behind the "yes" campaign say the referendum is a vote on Greece's future in the eurozone; however, the government doesn't believe it will be affected.
The future of #Greece is in Europe said @nikosaliagas tonight at the #PanathenaicStadium. pic.twitter.com/SMdBs0yt7I— ArchaeoGreece (@ArchaeoGreece) July 3, 2015
The leader of Greece's conservative main opposition party, New Democracy, said a "no" vote in Sunday's austerity referendum would drastically weaken the country's negotiating position with its creditors.
Antonis Samaras said Friday that all of Europe would perceive a "no" victory as a rejection of the euro currency itself, and that would result in Greek banks staying shuttered even longer, despite the government's vow they will open Tuesday.
He called on Greeks to support a "yes" vote to keep Greece inside the eurozone.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press