On 5 November, school and university students across Greece held new large-scale demonstrations in Athens, Thessaloniki, and other cities across the country, making it clear that they will continue to fight relentlessly for their rights to the education and studies they deserve.
The protesters denounced the underfunding and understaffing of public educational institutions, the dire state of infrastructure, and the exorbitant cost of housing and living expenses for students, which places a heavy burden on both the students themselves and their families.
“This is what school students deserve: Free public education—safe infrastructure!” read the banner of the Coordinating Committee of the School-Students of Athens, highlighting the demand for the elimination of class barriers and the fight against the cost of education and living expenses.
“From Greece to France, we are fighting for public and free education,” read the banner of the Athens Students’ Associations, highlighting the common thread linking the struggles and demands of young people, workers, and the people across Europe, who are fighting against policies that treat their needs as a “cost,” while generously giving billions of euros to support business groups and “oil the wheels” of war preparations.
Once again, the government tried to prevent the youth’s demands from being heard in the centre of Athens, creating a climate of police repression and closing metro stations in the heart of the capital; however, school and university students overcame these obstacles and held a massive rally and march to the Parliament.
