The homophobic attack by hundreds of people against two members of the LGBTI+ community who were in Aristotelous Square in Thessaloniki on Saturday night is shocking and appalling.
The two non-binary people, as they describe themselves, suddenly found themselves targeted by a mob that was chasing them with fury and hatred.
As the victims, both aged 21, reported, a group of people initially attacked them verbally and then threw bottles at them. Non-binary people fearing for their physical integrity ran for protection by finding shelter in an adjacent restaurant.
Nevertheless, the unruly mob followed them and continued to harass them even when police forces arrived at the scene, with whose assistance the victims of the attack were taken to the police station where they lodged a complaint.
One of the victims, in a video he uploaded on tik tok, says that they went for a simple walk in Thessaloniki and “we were attacked transphobic by 400 people, please those who have information and videos that may help me in the deposition, send them to me” .
Also in another post, he bursts out saying to those who attacked them unprovoked and so viciously “You will not go unpunished, you will learn what respect means”.
Once again, he appealed for any information or video that would help identify the perpetrators, adding that at the restaurant where they had taken refuge, the people who attacked them also beat up one of the staff.
@provc1ntcyu We have to admit though.. WE’RE STUPID AND JEALOUSY IS UGLY GIRLS #fyp #skg #gr #real ♬ MP3PSYCHOSIS – Jxxl3s
“I’m ashamed” he said “because there were people there and they could have reacted, but they didn’t do anything, despite everything they were mocking us” adding addressing those who see him that “think if it was your friends who did this. Would you like it?’
“It’s not the first nor the last attack I receive, certainly never again to such an extent,” he says in another post on tik tok.
“But I will tell you that I will not give up, I will go to extremes to punish this kind of behavior! If necessary, I will pay with my life!!!” writes.
“For all the 20 years that I have lived and fought, I will give them to all the people who have been lost unjustly” he says and addressing his persecutors he adds:
“You may think that you have the freedom to attack minorities, but in reality you have no freedom, not social, but personal, and that is why I am truly sorry for you, that you have not once in your life expressed yourself truly, that you have not been able to never learn what solidarity means.”
Referring to the moment of the attack, he says that suddenly many groups started whistling and cursing at them, there were hundreds, they spat at him, one of them was pulling me by the jacket, they were pushing and throwing bottles at them.
At one point he was hit on the head and he and the other person took refuge in a restaurant.
A girl came to help them, but they also pushed her away. “We entered a restaurant located in the square to save ourselves” he says.
@dionisis_g2 #thessaloniki #foryou #viral ♬ original sound – XHENIS????????
In a post on tik tok they describe everything they experienced on Saturday night. “It was shocking. They mocked us. There have been many arrivals but they must all be found. We spent the night giving statements at the police station, luckily we are fine, we also went to the hospital for tests.”
Against homotransphobia, a call has been made for a rally at the scene of the attack against the two members of the LGBTI+ community today at 7pm.
@r1a.vva #foryou #fyp #thessaloniki ♬ original sound – ????????????????????????
Hellenic Police forces rushed to the scene, and made 25 arrests. Of those brought in, 21 were arrested.
Specifically, the police arrested 11 minors and 10 adults. 12 of them are foreigners.
The case has been taken over by the Department for Combating Racist Violence of the General Police Directorate of Thessaloniki.
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