Greece protests over International Women’s Day and Tempi tragedy

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Greek cities on March 8 to pay tribute to the victims of the Tempi railway accident, protest the authorities about the safety of transportation and demand that those responsible be held accountable.

At the same time, on the initiative of feminist groups, actions are being held on the occasion of International Women’s Day. Hundreds of feminists gathered outside Parliament in Syntagma Square, shouting slogans against patriarchal violence and in favor of women’s emancipation, and against the attempt to hide responsibility for the Tempi tragedy by gathering at various events.

In addition to Athens, numerous protests took place in Thessaloniki, Patras, Chania, Livadia and other cities of the country. The Greeks were also supported in Paris, where the French railway workers took to the protest action, expressing “undivided support to the families of the victims of the crime in Tempi“.

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Athens: The center of the capital was “flooded” by tens of thousands of protesters who took part in the protest. It was estimated to be one of the largest demonstrations in recent years.

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1/2Πριν λίγο τα ΜΑΤ πέταξαν δακρυγόνα μέσα στην Πρυτανεία του ΕΚΠΑ την οποία είχαν καταλάβει φοιτητικοί σύλλογοι από το πρωί και όπου στο τέλος της πορείας προσήλθαν και εκπρόσωποι σωματείων για συνέλευση αγώνα. #Απεργία8Μάρτη #Απεργια #απεργια_Τεμπη #antireport pic.twitter.com/XuDAxyg7QF

— Μένουμε Ενεργοί – Υγεία, Συλλογικότητα, Αλληλεγγύη (@menoume_energoi) March 8, 2023

At noon, the MAT police squad attempted to infiltrate the ΕΚΠΑ administration, using chemicals and stun grenades extensively in an attempt to chase people who had taken refuge in the administration, which was taken over by the protesters.

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Athens

Clashes with police on Syntagma Square.

About 30 people standing in front of the monument to the Unknown Soldier threw stones at the police, who in turn threw stun grenades and chemicals. Incidents quickly spread to Panepistimiou and Stadiou streets, where a van caught fire in front of the Old Parliament building.

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Provocateurs attack the police, the police in response disperse the demonstration…

Thessaloniki

Incidents also took place in the center of Thessaloniki, between dozens of masked provookators and MAT police, after the end of an earlier procession in connection with the tragedy in Tempi. When the people who took part in the procession reached ose, there were incidents: hooded men threw Molotov cocktails and stones at the police, and the police responded by throwing tear gas grenades at both provocateurs and demonstrators. And the provocateurs… fled.

A human river has spilled onto the streets of Thessaloniki after the demonstrations that took place on Wednesday morning due to the railway tragedy in Tempi. At 19:00, members of leftist organizations, students and pupils began to gather in the center of Thessaloniki, near the statue of E. Venizelos.

Demonstrators initially gathered at 6:00 pm in Kamara, chanting slogans against the government, while members of the wider anti-authoritarian scene marched through the main streets of Thessaloniki.

During the Tempi demonstration, banners were put up with the following phrase: “There was no accident at Tempi.”

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Lamia

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Heraklion

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Chios

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Larisa

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Yanina

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Mytilini (Lesvos)

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The Greek Network for the 8 March Feminist Strike took the lead in organizing the strike, although it is noted that it was not convened by either GSEEnor ADEDY.

The list of feminist demands included the following items:

• Equal participation of women and men in decision-making centers (50-50)
• End violence against women and girls.
• Public policy and a strong inclusive welfare state for all women without discrimination.
• Full-time work and equal pay, with insurance and equal labor rights.
• Free medical care and treatment.
• Protection of sexual and reproductive health.
• Inclusion of sex education in the curricula of all levels of education.
• The right to contraception, abortion and childbirth.
• Eliminate sexism and discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Participation of women in the development and application of artificial intelligence programs.
• Gender Mainstreaming in Environment and Climate Change.
• Reception in Europe of all immigrant refugees.

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