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Thousands of people marched through the streets of Thessaloniki on January 26 in a mass protest to demand justice for the Tempe train disaster. Similar demonstrations took place on the same day in 97 cities across Greece and 13 cities around the world. [Alexandros Avramidis\/InTime News]<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
More concerning than the potential for an outbreak of violence at Friday\u2019s protests on the two-year anniversary of the Tempe railway crash is the idea that no incidents happen at all. A violent outburst, complete with the usual scenes of vandalism, clashes with the police, makeshift barricades, and arson, would make the protests and their message easier to manage. Everyone would condemn the violence, and we would move on.<\/p>\n
The real challenge lies in dealing with a silent protest, like the one that took place last month, which raised alarm within the government and across the political system. It\u2019s about understanding what motivates so many people to take to the streets and, most importantly, being able to respond convincingly after accurately interpreting the underlying causes and motivations.<\/p>\n
In January, nearly the entire political system appeared taken by surprise at the level of resonance the Tempe disaster still holds in society \u2013 something that had been off the radar in polls and other measures leading up to that point. The makeup of the protests only heightened the shock, triggering even more alarm bells. It wasn\u2019t just the usual angry youth or professional demonstrators on the streets.<\/p>\n
\nIt seems more likely that these concerns are being raised to deter mass participation in the protests, driven by fears of widespread violent incidents<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Parents with children, elderly people with grandchildren \u2013 all came out. The geographical spread of the protest was also unexpected. While protests in Athens and Thessaloniki are common, seeing them in almost every city across the country, including small islands, was not.<\/p>\n
The recent discussions about potential violent incidents or provocations at Friday\u2019s protests seem at odds with the tone of the demonstrations from a month ago. The same can be said for the claims of political exploitation. The protesters in January didn\u2019t allow their movement to be hijacked by political forces, and the polls that followed showed that the discontent driving citizens to the streets is not easily manipulated.<\/p>\n
It seems more likely that these concerns are being raised to deter mass participation in the protests, driven by fears of widespread violent incidents or the potential for the movement to be co-opted.<\/p>\n
The fundamental issue, however, remains the same: The number and, more importantly, the identity of those who will take to the streets on Friday will carry significant weight and have a major impact on the days to come.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n