Thousands Rally for Trans Couple Attacked During Thessaloniki Doc Fest

UPDATE A crowd that swelled into the thousands took to the streets of Thessaloniki Sunday night, one day after a shocking attack on a transgender couple rocked Greece’s second city and rattled filmmakers and guests at this year’s Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.

Waving rainbow flags, carrying banners denouncing homophobia and transphobia and chanting protest slogans, the mostly peaceful demonstration wound through the streets of this seaside city just hours after costume-clad revelers thronged the roads ahead of Thessaloniki’s Carnival celebration next weekend.

The crowd began to gather before 7 p.m. in Aristotelous Square, which was the site of the terrifying episode on Saturday night, when a mob of close to 200 black-clad youths cursed, spat and threw bottles as they pursued the young couple. The duo ultimately took refuge in a nearby restaurant until the police arrived on the scene. At least 21 suspects have been arrested so far.

On Sunday night, a stirring coalition of LGBTQ activists, women’s groups, student organizations and others showed their defiance, their chants echoing through the streets in a protest that only seemed to gain momentum as the night went on.

Despite a heavy police presence, the demonstration largely proceeded without incident. Tensions briefly flared outside the historic Olympion theater, which hosts red carpet premieres during the Thessaloniki doc fest and its sister event in November, and where moviegoers…