Politically motivated violence, for decades a stain on Greece’s post-junta democracy, has been virtually wiped out and has lost all popular support. There are, however, pockets of extremism that insist on maintaining a certain “ritual.” The recent events in Thessaloniki have proven that there is no such thing as “controlled” or “symbolic” violence. Every such act of malice can cost human lives, so it must be met with zero tolerance from society and swift action from the state. It must be eradicated completely.