Revolutions occur when the individuals band collectively towards a corrupt authorities and demand change. Greece got here to an utter standstill over the weekend after a whole bunch of hundreds of individuals took to the streets to demand solutions on the second anniversary of the nation’s deadliest rail catastrophe. It’s onerous to think about the sheer magnitude of those protests, that are believed to be the biggest in trendy Greek historical past.
All flights had been suspended. Transportation providers had been unavailable. Public providers got here to an abrupt halt as everybody took to the streets. Political affiliation, race, gender, intercourse, faith, and each different class that governments use to divide the individuals had been forgotten for a quick second in Greek historical past as everybody banded collectively towards the federal government. That is exactly what governments worry—the individuals acknowledging that the federal government reasonably than their neighbor is the issue.
For context, the tragic accident occurred on February 28, 2023, after a passenger prepare struck a freight prepare head-on close to Thessaloniki, claiming the lives of 57 individuals. Nobody has been prosecuted, and the individuals of Greece strongly imagine that the federal government labored to cowl up the true causes of the crash. Two years of close to silence from the federal government brought on tensions to boil till civil unrest turned inevitable.
The Greek persons are demanding transparency and accountability from their authorities NOW. Some imagine that the prepare could have been carrying unlawful flammable cargo, and 30 of the 57 victims, principally younger college students, could have survived the preliminary crash solely to burn alive within the fireplace that erupted shortly after. Not solely ought to the railway officers be held accountable, however the political figures who’ve hindered any actual investigation should reply to the individuals.
“We don’t overlook, we don’t forgive,” one signal learn, in response to Reuters. “Justice, not forgetting,” one other learn. Protestors in Athens wrote the names of the victims in purple on the streets. One other signal learn, “Privatizations kill,” and many individuals chanted, “I HAVE NO OXYGEN!” to honor one sufferer’s last telephone name to emergency providers earlier than being consumed by the fires.
Protests had been additionally held at over 100 Greek embassies and consulates internationally. A map of protests throughout six continents was published on Google for all to see. Some imagine over 430,000 individuals took to the streets of Athens alone. Your complete nation got here to a halt as everybody joined forces to demand solutions from their authorities. And guess what? The federal government was compelled to reply to the individuals. As a reminder, elected officers are imagined to SERVE THE PEOPLE who they elected to characterize them reasonably than their very own self pursuits, however we not often see that happen.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis initially blamed human error for the crash and nearly dismissed the occasions, citing that the justice system would correctly deal with the matter in time. His tune has since modified. He’s acknowledging that his administration has been within the improper. “The residents demanded the apparent: fact and justice for the victims, a state that takes motion to make sure such a tragedy isn’t repeated, and secure and trendy public transport,” the prime minister said, later including, “Greece can not function with half-measures and improvisation. With a system that reacts solely after the worst has occurred, that waits for crises to mobilize. The State has an obligation to anticipate, to not run behind developments. A collective duty, however above all my very own.”
This sensible historic name for justice reveals the power of the individuals as a collective. There’s a purpose this isn’t a prime information story worldwide. If the individuals weren’t divided, they might notice that governments are pinning us towards each other for a purpose. They try to protect us from the reality, silence us from talking, and slowly repeal our freedoms to realize energy. However energy is certain to switch, and governments can solely tighten their grip on it for therefore lengthy till it’s compelled out of their arms. Utilizing each device at their disposal, governments in all places aggressively divide the individuals to keep up their energy, as they know the individuals can and can overpower them when united. That is exactly how REAL change and revolutions occur.
