Serbian students march from Belgrade to Novi Sad, demanding justice for victims of the 2024 train station collapse and democratic reform [Image by Balkan Insight]
(The Post News) – Thousands of young Serbians are marching into Novi Sad to mark the first anniversary of the collapse of the train station canopy that killed 16 people on the 1st of November, 2024. The tragedy triggered the biggest youth-led protest in Serbia in decades, mobilizing students, workers, and activists for justice and democratic change.
Students of Novi Pazar, Belgrade, and other towns began the march some weeks ago in respect to the victims and also as a protest against what they described as systemic corruption within the government. Residents along the way constantly provided food, shelter, and acts of encouragement in support of the protest in a show of solidarity across the nation.
Accountability, not only for the disaster but also for years of mismanagement by President Aleksandar Vučić, lies at the very heart of their demands. The protesters have demanded snap parliamentary elections and an end to what they define as an ‘authoritarian state working within the interests of one political party’.
Government Crackdown
Over 1,000 have been arrested by the police, and the violent state repression was denounced by human rights organizations. But despite the repression, students continue to fill the streets throughout Serbia with cries of “Justice for the 16!” and “We are the change!”
Within this protest movement, vigorous debates have arisen: some students want to form an electoral list and challenge Vučić via the ballot, while others have rejected elections and all institutions, insisting instead on direct democracy and citizens’ self-organization.
While Vučić dismisses the protesters as “foreign-backed agitators,” their march shows no sign of easing. “The students woke us from our apathy,” declared Branislav Manojlović, a state worker. “They reminded us that democracy starts with courage.”
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