Following a violent attack on two trans people at the weekend, a large number of LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies demonstrated on the streets of Thessaloniki in northern Greece.
Around 7 pm local time on Sunday (10 March), tens of thousands of people gathered in Aristotelous Square, the site of the attack, to chant, wave Pride flags, and carry banners denouncing fascism, homophobia, and transphobia. They then marched through the city’s streets chanting, waving, and carrying banners denouncing these topics.
LGBTQ+ people, women’s organizations, anti-fascist coalitions, and student organizers all joined forces during the demonstration to show their support for hate.
According to one rally participant who wished to remain anonymous, about 3 to 4,000 people showed up, which was a “large attendance for a meeting that was organized in less than 24 hrs.”
The unnamed source described how “there were several clashes between mob officers and protesters as protesters marched through the center of Thessaloniki where officers used tear gas and surprise bombs to tear up the demo.”
The protest was sparked by events from the evening of the previous night, Saturday (9 March), when a mob of black people allegedly chased two 21-year-old trans people while verbally abusing them with homophobic slurs and throwing bottles at them.
Before police arrived, the subjects were forced to seek shelter in a restaurant.
In cafes and restaurants, the mob is seen running through the active square and yelling abuse at frightened customers.
According to local reports, police detained 25 people at the scene, 21 of whom were afterward detained, including 11 juveniles and 10 adults.
The governor of Thessaloniki, Stelios Angeloudis, said in a statement that tolerance is a mark of politeness and politics. There is no area for racist attitudes in the vibrant, diverse Thessaloniki of admiration for variety.
The strike comes a month after Greece became the first nation to legalize same-sex marriage and implementation with a Christian Orthodox lot. Thessaloniki itself is scheduled to host EuroPride later in the year.
Steve Taylor, the communications chairman of the European Pride Organizers Association, the licensor of EuroPride, claimed this illustrates why Pride is so important.
“We share the horror of Saturday’s strike with the patients, and we are standing in cooperation with the numerous thousands of people who came out on Sunday,” Taylor said.
This reminds us that there is still work to be done, and this is why EuroPride in Thessaloniki in June will be so significant, a fortnight after the joyous events of similar union in Greece.
Since returning to Thessaloniki Pride in 2017, we have often felt safe and at ease there. Individuals in any Pride may, of course, always be cautious, and we are confident that Thessaloniki’s officers and authorities will pay particular attention to EuroPride to ensure safety.
Thessaloniki Pride may post safety information for customers on their website as the event draws near, in keeping with all EuroPride guests.
A Thessaloniki Pride spokesperson addressed any questions Pride-goers may have and stated that the event has always been seen as quite safe because of “the popularity among the local neighborhood, the numerous friends, and the administrative support that always massively outnumber the critics.”
They claimed the “appalling event” that occurred on Saturday is “unprecedented because it involved a” naturally gathered crowd that involved in” social media murder” to show off and reflects the current issues the children is facing.
The organizers stressed that surveillance of EuroPride 2024 is of utmost importance and that the event has persuaded the regulators to pay more attention and be more diligent, particularly during the June EuroPride manifestations,” they added. Thessaloniki Pride was contacted the very next day of the affair, which is a good sign.
Thessaloniki Documentary Festival organizers, who are organizing the event, even have the opportunity to protest the event while it is taking place in the city.
Through all of its actions, including the great Member Queer gift with LGBT+ video, discussions and presentations by distinguished speakers, its software, the Mermaid Award, as well as its aid at EuroPride, the Festival “unequivocally condemns every action of homophobic and racist violence,” read a statement published on Facebook.
The Carnival rejects acts of dislike, violence, extraordinary voices of hatred, and racism, as we have already stated in the previous days, and is an open space for art, inclusion, and dialogue.
Gay activist and filmmaker Maria Katsikadakou told Variety that the assault had left her “angry and frightened” and left her feeling enraged.
“I thought some issues may have changed, but now I’m wondering if things have changed. ” Katsikadakou said,”
Actor Fil Ieropoulos said in a separate interview with Variety that “with these new laws, we are at a crossroads and we’re going to discover what all this really means for Greek culture in the coming times.”
Personally, I do n’t believe these laws accurately reflect the state of Greek society. And if anything, this incident demonstrates that the fact that some people may benefit from the new legislation does not alter Greek truth in public, particularly for transgender people.
Ieropoulos’ viewpoint is comparable to what the unidentified source has witnessed since the incident.
Actually, the assault on the couple has been condemned, but there has also been a lot of vile anti-LGBT+ hate speech, particularly on Twitter, according to them.
