2024 Novi Sad protests
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| 2024 Novi Sad protests | |||
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| Date | 3 November 2024 – present | ||
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| Status | Ongoing | ||
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In November 2024, a series of mass protests began in Novi Sad, following the railway station canopy collapse in the city, which left 15 people dead and two severely injured.
Blockades of educational facilities started at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at Belgrade University after students were attacked on November 22 during a silent tribute to the victims of the November 1 disaster. After the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, other faculties and high schools soon followed. In addition to other demonstrations, protesters have held weekly "Stop, Serbia" (Serbian: Застани, Србијо, Zastani, Srbijo) traffic blockades, held from 15 minutes from 11:52 a.m. to 12:08 am, to mark the 15 lives lost in the tragedy.
Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse
[edit]On 1 November 2024, the canopy of the Novi Sad railway station collapsed, killing 15 people and leaving 2 others with non-critical injuries. The collapse shocked the nation, with many questioning the structural integrity and maintenance oversight of public infrastructure. Authorities launched an investigation into the causes of the incident, but public frustration grew due to perceived delays and lack of accountability in the response.[2]
Protests
[edit]November
[edit]Early protests primarily took the form of quiet vigils for victims of the collapse.[3] However, these protests began to morph into larger and angrier demonstrations, with demonstrators accusing police and local authorities of negligence and corruption. Protesters began demanding a transparent investigation into the collapse, and the release of documents related to the incident. The Associated Press suggested that the collapse has also served as a flash point for expressions of dissatisfaction with the Serbian government as a whole.[3]
Some demonstrations escalated into acts of vandalism, with the Novi Sad City Hall being a primary target. Windows were shattered, [4] and graffiti was put up. Red paint was thrown on the city hall entrance[5][6] and attempts were made to breach the building.[7] Law enforcement responded with tear gas and arrests, [5][6][4] further inflaming tensions. Protesters suggested that these and other violent demonstrations were the result of government plants seeking to derail the protests.[5]
Students began to occupy educational buildings amid the tension.[8]
One November demonstration in Novi Sad drew 20,000 protesters, making it the largest protest in the city in decades.[9] Demonstrators have held weekly 15-minute traffic blockade protests on Fridays at 11:52 am, the time of the collapse.[10] Cars have hit some protesters during these blockades.[11][12]
December
[edit]On 1 December, a silent march was held in Novi Sad to commemorate one month since the collapse.[13]
By early December, Serbian students had begun organizing 24-hour blockades at some school campuses.[12] By mid-December, more than 50 university campuses and multiple secondary schools had suspended classes due to student protests.[11]
On 11 December, students demonstrated at the headquarters of television station RTS, for their broadcasting of President Aleksandar Vučić's claims that demonstrators are being funded by Western countries who seek to destabilize Serbia.[14][11][15] The same day, Vučić made concessions including promising that all prosecutorial documents related to the disaster would be publicized, announced that all currently held protesters were released, and pledged to pardon any protesters if they were convicted at trial. While the concessions marked the first time since Vučić's rise to power in 2012 that any concessions were made to protesters, they did not include the protest's calls for his resignation.[16]
On 13 December, farmers in central Serbia blocked a road with tractors.[11]
In response to police brutality and alleged paid hooligans that have attacked civilians and protesters, opposition leaders, students, farmers and independent demonstrators organized a large-scale protest on December 22, at Slavija Square in Belgrade.[17] The estimated attendance was between 100,000 and 102,000 people.[18]
Symbols
[edit]
A common protester slogan has been "corruption kills".[9] Protest symbols have included red handprints "blood on the hands" of authorities and bleeding doves, with the dove being one of the symbols of Novi Sad. [3][19]
References
[edit]- ^ "Archive of public meetings: The largest protest ever held in Serbia, about 100.000 citizens gathered in Slavija". Vijesti. 2024-12-24. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
- ^ Oltermann, Philip (2024-12-22). "Serbian schools to close early for winter break amid anti-corruption protests". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
- ^ a b c "Why people are protesting over a deadly roof collapse in Serbia". AP News. 2024-11-21. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ^ a b "Police fire tear gas at protest over deadly canopy collapse in Serbia". YouTube. 10 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "Police fire tear gas at protest over deadly canopy collapse in Serbia". AP News. 2024-11-05. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ^ a b "Anti-government protesters blame rampant corruption for roof crash that killed 14 people in Serbia". AP News. 2024-11-11. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ^ "Serbian Protesters Clash with Police over Deadly Railway Station Collapse | DRM News | AC11". YouTube. 21 November 2024.
- ^ "Serbian students protest during briefing by President Vucic amid ongoing anger over station collapse". YouTube.
- ^ a b Delauney, Guy (2024-11-21). "Fury at Novi Sad station tragedy prompts Serbia to make first arrests". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ^ "Protesters in Serbia hold 15-minute blockade for 15 victims of roof collapse, demanding justice". AP News. 2024-11-29. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
- ^ a b c d Gec, Jovana (2024-12-13). "Traffic blockades held throughout Serbia against populist government over roof collapse tragedy". AP News. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ^ a b "Car rams and injures orchestral musicians in Belgrade during a protest over station roof collapse". AP News. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ^ "Thousands march in Serbia to mark 1 month since roof collapse killed 15 people". Voice of America. 2024-12-01. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ^ "Protesters hold a noisy demonstration against Serbia's populist leadership". AP News. 2024-12-12. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ^ "Serbian students rally against government, refute claims of Western funding". Euronews. 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ^ "Serbia's Vucic promises to meet protesters' demands after train station disaster". Reuters. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ "Serbia: Farmers and students plan to protest in central Belgrade on Dec. 22". Crisis24. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
- ^ "Massive protest rally held in Belgrade". N1 (in Serbian). 23 December 2024.
- ^ "A woman who was injured in a deadly roof collapse in Serbia has died, bringing death toll to 15". AP News. 2024-11-17. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
