Tensions arose last night, shortly after 8:30 a.m., when a group of hooded men attacked police at Syntagma Square at a protest rally against the inaction of the perpetrators that led to the tragedy in Tempe. In response, the Ukrainian Armed Forces used chemicals and stun grenades, forcing all the protesters who were on the square at that time to retreat.

Previously, students held a peaceful rally. On the closed Syngrou Avenue, the only sounds that could be heard were the intermittent sirens of the ambulance and the sirens that mutated into the voices of several thousand schoolchildren, students and others who turned out to protest. “It’s Not Just Friday” Themistocles, 21, told K., student of the Faculty of Philosophy. “This is a day of mourning.” As they walked towards the Hellenic Train offices, one slogan followed another. “Sacrifice the dead on the altar of profit, this is not an accident, this is a choice.” “This crime must not be hidden, let’s be the voice of all the dead.” “Where are the students?” “In the streets,” they answered in groups, “there are students in the streets.”

They see themselves

Since most of the victims are close to their age, they see themselves in each of the victims. “We are here”, Maria, 22, reports “K”., a visual arts student, “because we could be in the children’s shoes.” Many are holding signs: “I don’t want to live on luck.” “In a country where we should live like a miracle, we live like a miracle.” “Send when you arrive.” Some are holding white balloons – “for the souls of the dead,” they say. In a balloon that holds 20-year-old Fotis Tsivolas reads: 57 death tickets. “It is unthinkable, in 2023, that obvious things will not work, that there will be no more workers on the railways, that traffic lights will not work,” he tells K. “Most of the dead were students of our generation, and their parents are now crying unfairly,” he adds.

The march was also attended by older people who do not consider themselves victims. They see their children. “Little children died because of tragic mistakes that cannot be answered” Gianna Stavropoulou reports “K”., mother of two college students. “It shouldn’t be like this,” he stresses, “this generation has to be saved.” Three teachers came to protest. “Something has to change, and only children can change that,” she says. Nasia Papagianni. “All this gives you the feeling that we are living by mistake”, Georgia Adamopoulou declares “K”.. Many descend today for the first time. “New lives died, and moreover, they returned from a trip and lost their lives,” says 17-year-old Alexander. “The Greek system,” he emphasizes, “doesn’t care about people.” “We are all asking, regardless of party or political coloring, to see what really happened.” adds 22-year-old Dimitris.

As they drive up to the Hellenic Train offices, some people write “Murderers” and “Profit stained with students’ blood” in red paint. The road is blocked by police. Members of the working delegation are trying to get through to a meeting with the management of the enterprise. “For our safety, we are here” says 36-year-old Angelos “K”., master of the Piraeus factory. “We have lost colleagues,” he notes, “the drivers are now afraid to get on the train – the same conditions in the engine rooms and at the factory.” The delegation passes, the hall applauds. The demonstration has been canceled and the protest date has been moved to today at noon. The street is further, tourists are happy to settle in their hotel.