A protest rally will be held this Friday, February 28th, at 12:00 PM in Melbourne in front of the Consulate of Greece, located at 37-39 Albert Rd, Melbourne. This rally, marking the second anniversary of the devastating Tempi Train Crash in Greece, calls for accountability, transparency, and justice for the 57 innocent lives lost in the tragic accident. In Sydney, the protest rally will take place at 6:00pm at the Town Hall and in Perth at the Greek Consulate at 6.30pm.
The rally in Melbourne is part of a larger, international movement, with protests scheduled in over 220 cities and towns across Greece and more than 80 Greek diasporic centers worldwide. The goal is to amplify the voices of the Greek diaspora, demanding justice and accountability for the tragedy that continues to haunt the families of the victims and the Greek public.
The accident, which occurred on February 28, 2023, was a result of a head-on collision between a passenger train and a freight train near the town of Tempi. The crash took the lives of 57 people, including many young students, and exposed significant issues within Greece’s rail system, including years of mismanagement, neglect, and failure to address systemic safety flaws.
In the aftermath of the crash, both the Greek government and railway authorities have faced intense scrutiny. However, to this day, no one has been held accountable for the disaster. The protests that are taking place around the world are a powerful call for transparency, justice, and for those responsible to finally be held to account.
The call for justice is clear: “We demand that the causes of this deadly accident not be covered up. We call for justice. We insist that responsibility be assigned to those accountable for the long-standing mismanagement of Greece’s railways,” stated Panagiotis Ppiros, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia.
As the second anniversary of the Tempi Train Crash approaches, the rally in Melbourne—and those taking place globally—serve as a reminder that the fight for justice is far from over. The families of the victims continue to demand answers, and the Greek diaspora stands united in solidarity, ensuring that the truth will not be buried.
“We pledge that the Greeks of Australia will remain steadfast in our solidarity with the families of the 57 victims until full accountability is established, and those responsible for the policies that led to this railway disaster are held to account,” added Ppiros.
The rallies will continue to amplify the collective demand for justice, ensuring that no one forgets the victims of this preventable tragedy.
Rally Details:
Melbourne:
Date: Friday, February 28th
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Consulate of Greece, 37-39 Albert Rd, Melbourne
Sydney:
Date: Friday, February 28th
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Town Hall
Perth:
Date: Friday, February 28th
Time: 6.30 PM
Location: Consulate of Greece, 16 St George’s Terrace
Global Rally Locations:
In addition to the Melbourne rally, protests will take place in the following locations:
Berlin, Germany:
Time: 6:00 PM local time
Location: Greek Embassy, Hiroshimastr. 11-15, 10785 Berlin
Details: The Greek Community of Berlin calls for full transparency and accountability regarding the Tempi tragedy.
Copenhagen, Denmark:
Time: 6:00 PM local time
Location: Greek Embassy, Hammerensgade 4, 1267 København
Details: The Greek Community of Denmark stands in solidarity with the victims’ families, demanding justice and transparency.
Stockholm, Sweden:
Time: 5:30 PM local time
Location: Corner of Humlegårdsgatan/Sturegatan, followed by a march to the Greek Embassy
Details: The Greek Community of Stockholm calls for justice and remembrance of the victims.
London, United Kingdom:
Time: Details to be confirmed
Location: Greek Embassy, 1A Holland Park, London W11 3TP
Details: The Greek Community of London invites all to join in demanding justice for the victims.
New York City, USA:
Time: Details to be confirmed
Location: Greek Consulate, 69 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075
Details: The Greek-American community calls for accountability and transparency regarding the Tempi tragedy.
These rallies serve as a powerful call for justice and accountability, uniting the global Greek diaspora in remembrance and advocacy for the victims of the Tempi Train Crash.
