Greek protests erupt demanding justice for 57 rail crash victims

In a significant display of public outrage, tens of thousands of Greeks took to the streets to demand accountability for the 57 victims of the country’s deadliest rail disaster in 2023, which resulted in widespread mourning and anger. The protests, held in 110 cities worldwide on a Sunday, included 13 locations abroad, with particularly large marches convincing around 30,000 people in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece's largest cities. While the demonstration was predominantly peaceful, small groups clashed with police forces in various locations, including using rocks and flares, prompting police to respond with tear gas and flash-bang grenades. The confrontations were brief but indicative of the deep-seated frustrations boiling over from the tragedy. In London, around 500 individuals gathered outside the Greek Embassy to voice their grievances, highlighting the international dimension of the protests as they unfolded in major cities: Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Cologne, Helsinki, Nicosia, Reykjavik, and Valetta, Malta. Protesters carried placards accusing the state, the conservative government, and the European Commission of complicity in the matter, expressing that the investigation surrounding the disaster has been opaque, and assertion that the government is attempting to shift blame onto the actions of a stationmaster. The anger stemmed not only from the loss of life, often involving young individuals, but also from rumors and beliefs that many of the victims may have survived the initial crash only to perish in a fire fueled by dangerous onboard chemicals from a freight train. Media reports from Greece suggested that a trial might commence if there were no additional delays, and estimations indicated that approximately 50 to 60 officials from rail authorities could face legal consequences. Maria Karystianou, a prominent figure among the victims' relatives whose daughter was killed in the incident, has been vocal in her condemnation of the government's handling of the situation, describing it as a mafia-like cover-up operation and calling for justice fervently. The accident previously led to the resignation of the then-transport minister and heightened opposition pressure against the ruling government, which recently survived a no-confidence motion concerning the crash. The ongoing protests reflect a broader dissatisfaction with the state and its response, signaling a fight that resonates not only in Greece but across the globe.