2024-03-10 04:14:20
Continuation of their fight against the operation of private universities and after the inevitable, as it seems, passing of the bill, which will give this possibility, announce the students, who once again found themselves today in the streets of Ioannina and other major cities of country.
The mobilizations culminate tomorrow Friday, the day the bill is passed in the Parliament, with a large protest gathering in Athens, where students from all over Greece have planned to attend.
“The students have been massively on the streets for over two months and we have given an answer to the bill brought by the government. We have rejected it and we will escalate our struggle in the nationwide rally in Athens, which will really sink in, because the students and the entire academic community have rejected it. Because it destroys our lives”, emphasized the president of the Mathematics Student Association, Maria Valaroutsou, in her statements in front of the Region’s headquarters, shortly before starting a long march towards the area of ​​Skala, without, however, reaching its final destination, as rain and hail forced students to leave for shelter.
“We are here, keeping our struggle alive, keeping the sit-ins alive, and taking to the streets a day before the bill is passed to show what we have made very clear to the community for two months, that the condemnation against the bill, the condemnation against the coup and unconstitutional repeal of Article 16 is universal. From all strata of Greek society. More than 70% of the youth say no to the privatization, to the commercialization of education, to the dissolution of the public University”, stated, for his part, the president of the Local Students’ Association Kostas Lachanis Zaglavaras and added: “Even if it is voted , we will continue the fight. It has already been discussed in the coordinating general meetings. The occupations do not stop, the demonstrations do not stop. In combination with the rest of the layers of Greek society, I believe we can win.”
Today’s march was the completion of the mobilizations in view of the passing of the bill in Ioannina, with most of the University’s faculties being occupied. After the end of the march and weather permitting, the planned hanging of a giant banner on the walls of the Castle took place.
The City Hall is under occupation
At approximately 12 noon, students, who define themselves as “Initiative against private universities”, took over the Ioannina City Hall.
The staff of the Municipality left without any tensions and a banner was hung from the balcony of the City Hall and at its entrance, while a megaphone was also broadcast.
The time of the occupation has not been determined, however it is very likely that it will continue tomorrow, the day the bill is passed in the Parliament.