Greek Students Launch Occupation of Universities in Protest over Train Crash

Greek students continue to be the vanguard of the protest action over the deadly train crash in Tempi on Feb. 28. Many youth, returning from carnival events in Athens to school in Thessaloniki, were among those killed and injured in the head-on collision. Having taken part in the massive demonstrations in the last two weeks, the students are now moving to occupy the universities. In Athens students occupied the neoclassical university buildings in central Athens, not far from the Hellenic Parliament. According to Kathimerini, the central building, called the Propylaia, of the University of Athens and the National Technical University of Athens on Patission Street are under occupation. The moves are also being politically interpreted in the context of the country’s prolonged election period. Since the beginning of the week an “Occupation” banner has dominated the entrance of the Propylaia, where the University of Athens’ rectorate is located. In addition, student groups have sent emails to professors not to hold remote classes.