UPDATE
Protesters are reportedly returning to Syntagma Square in Athens after the bulk of the demonstrators dispersed earlier on Friday following skirmishes that broke out between police forces and a small group of hooded individuals. The masked individuals – purportedly anarchists and fringe anti-establishment left-wing groups – started throwing Molotov cocktails in front of the Greek parliament where tens of thousands of peaceful protesters had gathered. Police officers responded with tear gas and stun grenades. The ensuing chaos forced the main body of protesters to leave the area.
Thousands of Greeks flooded multiple cities across the country on Friday, February 28th, the two-year anniversary of the tragic Tempi train crash in 2023 which claimed the lives of 57 people, to demand justice and accountability. The country has come to a standstill due to a strike by multiple labor unions.
Most protesters gathered in the nation’s capital, Athens in front of the Parliament at Syntagma Square.
In a somber atmosphere, the organizers read out the names of the victims of the fatal freight and passenger collision, which has caused outrage in Greek society, with many accusing the government of a cover-up.
At least 300 rallies and protests are reportedly underway to mark the 2nd anniversary of the Tempi train crash which left 57 mostly young people dead on February 28, 2023.
According to estimates in Greek media, the participation in the nationwide protests is one of the largest ever, with people holding placards and make-shift signs in the “march for justice”. Citizens in Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, Patras, Larissa and many other areas nationwide are taking part in the protests.
So far, according to the official Facebook page of the Tempi Victims’ Relatives Association 2023, rallies have been planned in hundreds of towns, cities, and islands in Greece and cities across the globe.
Under the slogan “I Have No Oxygen”, the association consisting of Tempi victim families, has created a map of planned rallies for Friday, February 28.
Meanwhile, demonstrations outside Greece have been planned in the following countries and cities:
Argentina
- Buenos Aires – Plaza de Mayo – 18:00
Australia
- Melbourne – Greek Consulate of Melbourne – 12:00
- Perth – Consulate of Greece 7/16 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA – 18:30
Austria
- Vienna – Embassy of Greece (Vienna) – 18:00
Belgium
- Bruges – Market Square – 17:00
- Brussels – Place Luxemburg – 17:00
Bulgaria
- Sofia – Kliment Ohridski University Main Entrance – 17:00
Canada
- Montreal – 3003 Boul. le Carrefour, Laval, QC H7T 1C7 – 17:00
- Toronto – M. Alexandrou Danforth Square – 12:00
Cyprus
- Larnaca – Europe Square – 17:00
- Limassol – Α’ parking lot of Limassol Pier – 18:00
- Nicosia – Eleftherias Square – 17:00
- Paphos – City Hall – 17:00
Czech Republic
- Brno – Astronomical Clock – 18:00
- Prague – Namesti Miru – 18:00
Denmark
- Aarhus – Banegårdspladsen 1, 8000 – 17:00
- Copenhagen – Hammerensgade 4, 1267 – 17:00
Egypt
- Alexandria, Averofeio School
Finland
- Helsinki – Oodi Library – 18:00
France
- Marseille – Vieuw Port A L’Ombriere – 18:00
- Paris – Place de la Republique – 19:00
- Strasbourg – Place Broglie – 17:00
- Toulouse – Métro Jean Jaurès – 18:00
Germany
- Berlin – Hiroshimastraße 11-15, 10785 – 18:00
- Bonn – Münsterplatz – 18:00
- Cologne – Harry-Blum-Platz – 22:00
- Dortmund – Friedensplatz – 18:00
- Düsseldorf – Johannes-Rau-Platz – 11:00
- Frankfurt – Paulskirche – 17:00
- Hamburg – Rathausmarkt – 18:00
- Hannover – Goseriedeplatz – 11:00
- Karlsruhe – Bundesverfassungsgericht – 18:00
- Leipzig – AM MARKTPLATZ – 17:00
- Munich – Konigsplatz – 16:00
- Nuremberg – Veit-Stoß-Platz – 18:00
- Stuttgart – Schlossplatz – 18:30
