We have received a negative response concerning the use of the high symbolism of Thessaloniki’s landmark at the conclusion of the multi-colored march.
Read our open letter to the Ministry of Culture:
OPEN LETTER – RESPONSE TO THE EPHORATE OF ANTIQUITIES OF THESSALONIKI AND THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF SPORTS (MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND SPORTS)
Structure 1st February 2022 – In the Name of Alkis feels the need to publicly address the Ephorate of Antiquities of Thessaloniki and the General Secretariat of Sports, as well as the Greek State in general, and to express the following thoughts and concerns:
- WE THANK YOU for complying with the current legislation and maintaining the symbol of Thessaloniki, the White Tower, as it should be.
A symbol of an unblemished and untainted society.
- WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND why a period of three (3) months and ten (10) days had to pass from the submission of our application dated 14-11-2022—by which we requested, within the framework of the march to be held in memory of Alkis Kampanos on 1-2-2023, the projection onto the White Tower of visual material with images of Alkis and photographs of actions held in his memory both in Greece and abroad—until the notification, just one week before the march, of the response from the Ephorate of Antiquities of Thessaloniki (Ministry of Culture and Sports) under protocol no. 555742/23-1-2023. According to this response, it was decided that the projection of the aforementioned material onto the White Tower is not possible, but “exceptionally,” it may be shown on a screen to be placed in the wider surrounding area of the monument (evidently not at the expense of the Greek State…).
- WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND why the Ephorate of Antiquities of Thessaloniki did not approve, in writing (protocol no. 555742/23-1-2023), the projection of images containing the emblems of major sports clubs of the city (from actions of these specific clubs in memory of Alkis), “to avoid even the minimum possibility of fan polarization,” even on a screen placed in the wider surrounding area of the White Tower.
Does the leadership of the Ministry of Culture and Sports share the view that the projection of the emblems of Thessaloniki’s major sports clubs in general, and specifically the emblems of all such clubs within the context of an event with the aforementioned content, constitutes a potential cause and occasion for fan polarization?
- WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND why the Greek State has not yet accepted our request, which we submitted as early as 16-9-2022 to the competent General Secretariat of Sports (Ministry of Culture and Sports), for February 1st to be designated as “Panhellenic Fans’ Day.”
The Board of Directors of Structure 1st February 2022 – In the Name of Alkis
