With the main slogan “WE WANT TO CIRCULATE FREELY AND NOT BRAVELY!!!”, a gathering of citizens took place on Saturday afternoon (23/11) in Avdi Square and then a march in the neighborhood of Metaxourgiou, as a movement of reaction and protest, for the incidents of gender violence that took place this year in Metaxourgeio and have been reported to the Security Department of Omonia.
Watch video from the protest march
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What does the relevant announcement of the protesting citizens say?
“Sunday April 21, dawn | RAPE | M. street Alexander
Thursday, April 4, evening | ATTEMPTED FORCE | Millerou street
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Wednesday, July 3, early morning | ATTEMPTED FORCE | at the junction of Evripidou and Menandros streets
Saturday, July 13, dawn | ATTEMPTED FORCE | at the junction of Pileos and Mentoros streets
The cases mentioned above are only some of the incidents of gender violence that took place this year in Metaxourgio and have been reported to the Security Department of Omonia. We don’t know how many other incidents may have gone unreported in our neighborhood as the police handle them either by ignoring them and preventing survivors from reporting the incidents, or by re-traumatizing them with lengthy and multiple procedures. It thus fulfills its role, which is not to support the survivors but to maintain the patriarchal system of power that oppresses us all. At the same time, the perpetrators move freely while well-known abusers, rapists, members of trafficking rings go scot-free.
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Two of the attempts mentioned above did not result in rape because by chance a passerby or neighbor reacted. It is important not to forget that we, the residents, are the ones who create the feeling of safety in our neighborhoods, thinking of each other.
Intense tourism comes to upgrade and supposedly save the area from crime. But we see that the area is not getting any safer. The empty apartments available to tourists do not help the area’s sense of security. What we see is rent and shop prices rising, free public spaces shrinking. Metaxourgeio, once a working-class neighborhood with locals and immigrants who shared a common daily life is gradually turning into an area full of Airbnb, entertainment centers, mafias and trafficking, pushing us more and more out of the neighborhood.
How many will finally go out on the balcony to react if a voice is heard asking for help?
The existence of security for the president of the Republic did not prevent a rape attempt a little further on. What we observe is that the social fabric is weakening, the sense of neighborhood and solidarity that it entails is being lost.
The input from everyone, everyone and everything is important.
There is an assembly of neighborhood residents, Mahalas Metaxourgeiou, which meets every Tuesday at 21.00 at Orizontes Gegonoton, Kerameikou 88.
WE CALL ON SATURDAY 23/11 AT 19.30 GATHERING IN AVDI SQUARE.
PROGRAM OF ACTIONS:
19.30 SELF-DEFENSE LESSON
21.00 PROCESS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF METAXOURGEIOU
WE WANT TO CIRCULATE FREELY AND NOT BRAVELY !!!”
Source: www.zougla.gr
