Protests took place in the Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne on Friday, February 28, as the Greek Australian community stood in solidarity with the families of the 57 victims of the Tempi train tragedy in Greece.
The protests mark the second anniversary of the Tempi train tragedy.
Sydney protest: A moving tribute
In Sydney, New South Wales, demonstrators gathered outside the offices of the Consulate of Greece to demand justice and accountability for the tragedy.
The protest featured chants, emotional readings of the names of those who lost their lives, and poetry recitals.
Among the speakers was Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney, Nia Karteris, who delivered a powerful speech condemning the Greek government’s handling of the incident.
“It is unacceptable that the government, after two years since this accident, that the investigation has not been yet completed, and that there has been no clear decision on what happened that day and who was responsible for this accident, even though we really know who is responsible for this accident…” Ms Karteris said.
“The government should not cover up the causes of this terrible accident, and those responsible should be held accountable and punished, whoever they may be.”
The protest also saw participation from international Greek singer Rena Morfi, who is currently in Sydney after performing at the Greek Festival in Darling Harbour over the weekend.
Additionally, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney Ioannis Mallikourtis was called upon to be presented with resolutions from the community, with a representative attending on his behalf.
Speaking with The Greek Herald, protestor Dennis Ferles, found out about the protest through our newspaper and shared why it was important for him to be there.
“As an Australian Greek, it’s important to rally and stand in solidarity, because we are Greek at the end of the day, regardless of where we grew up,” Dennis said. “I think people need to be held accountable.”
Melbourne protest: A gathering of hundreds
More than 100 people gathered in Melbourne, Victoria to honour the victims and demand justice. Similar to Sydney, the event featured emotional readings of the victims’ names, chanting, and speeches.
Among the speakers were individuals who had lost loved ones in the tragedy, as well as Dimitris Tafidis, university students, and Rita Manasis, who all spoke passionately about the need for accountability and justice.
The protests in both cities demonstrated the deep connection between the Greek Australian community and Greece, as well as their determination to ensure the voices of the victims’ families are heard.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Bill Roumeliotis
