«For your safety, foreigners travel at night», was the answer given by the Thessaloniki bus services( KTEL)personnel, to justify their refusal to issue a ticket to a citizen of African origin. They were addressing passengers who reacted to the refusal and the false pretext that they were no seats available , reporting that there were actually many empty seats on the bus, on « regular» route.
Some probably think they are living in the American South , somewhere in the 1950’ s. Fortunately, however, there are still citizens who do not tolerate racism and there was a public complaint about the incident.
The issue will be brought in parliament and the Ministry of Transport should be obliged to take a clear position on this one , as well as on the attitude of the police officers who, though they were present at the scene of the incident, did not intervene.
A small reminder: the Thessaloniki KTEL is the same one that a short time ago had tried to dissolve the workers’ union, by firing members of the administration. Fortunately, due to the struggle of the transport workers’ federation and court decisions, everything returned to normal.
A case study on racism and hatred for labor rights happily coexisting hand in hand.
( Nasos Iliopoulos, MP)