In over 300 cities across Greece and beyond, citizens are taking to the streets on Friday, February 28 to honor the memory of the 57 victims of the Tempi train disaster. Among the demonstrators, students are once again expected to play a pivotal role, holding true to their pledge: “We will not forget, and Tempi will not be forgotten.”

“Two years ago, when the tragedy at Tempi occurred, we took to the streets alongside the Coordinating Committee of Students of Athens and our schoolmates, demanding full accountability—both criminal and political. From the very beginning, we refused to allow a cover-up,” says Marina Tasioula, a high school junior from Likovrysi, in Attica.

“We made a promise, and we have kept it. We will not forget. We will continue fighting until true justice is served. Beyond our massive protests, we have carried out hundreds of actions—forming messages with our school bags, painting graffiti in our schools—so that future students and teachers, even after we have graduated, will remember and continue the struggle,” she told To Vima.

The students’ demand is clear, unwavering, and deeply rooted in a call for justice. Their overwhelming participation in nationwide demonstrations sends a powerful, nonpartisan message: they seek answers, accountability, and vindication.

“On March 6, 2023, just days after the deadly train crash, I joined the protest for Tempi. It was the first time I felt such an urgent need to take to the streets, to speak out, to be the voice of the victims. Deep inside, my conscience was screaming for justice—justice for those who lost their lives, for their grieving families,” says 14-year-old Sophilia Yaitsi, a student at the 1st Experimental High School of Chania, Crete.

“Until responsibility is fully assigned, we will continue our fight. It is our duty as a generation to stay aware and vigilant. It is terrifying to realize that we are living in a country where authorities sign off on false claims. As future leaders, we must secure a better future—not only for ourselves but for those who come after us. A future where we won’t have to fear boarding a train, wondering if we’ll make it back alive.”

The students’ commitment to action remains unwavering. They were there two years ago. They were there on January 26, 2025. And they will be out in force once again on February 28.

“I protested then, and I will continue to protest because our voice is our strength. Every individual’s participation matters. Demonstrations remind people that they are not alone in the face of injustice. They keep the power of the people alive,” says 17-year-old Constance D., a student at the Athens Music School.

Sixteen-year-old Katerina P. echoes this sentiment: “I will keep protesting because in this country, our voices are only heard when we stand together. The government is trying to cover up a crime. Only through mass mobilization can the truth come to light.”

“I have no oxygen.” These were the final words of one of the victims of the Tempi train tragedy. “We have no oxygen.” The last word has not yet been spoken. “I” has become “we.”

With placards in hand, students take to the streets, battling against oblivion and demanding justice. But what do they feel? Rage? Anger? Frustration? Sorrow? Fear?

Marina has an answer: “I feel rage.” “Why? Because it has become painfully clear that both the current and previous governments, along with the corporations involved, prioritize profit over human life. Trains and public transport, in general, are not maintained as they should be, and as a result, 57 people lost their lives.”