University students in Serbia marked 100 days since the collapse of a concrete canopy at a train station by staging protests and blockades across the country. The canopy collapse, which resulted in the tragic death of 15 people, has sparked a wave of anti-government sentiment and demands for accountability.
Protesters in Belgrade blocked the Gazela bridge over the Sava River for 7 hours, while simultaneous blockades occurred in Novi Sad and Nis. The students are demanding justice for the Nov. 1 disaster and are accusing the government of corruption.
The protests have evolved into a nationwide movement against President Aleksandar Vucic's government, with calls for greater transparency and democracy. The resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, a Vucic ally, has already been a direct result of the student-led protests.
The protesters have been carrying banners with the names of the victims and symbolically dropping white roses into the river painted red to represent the 'blood on the hands' of the authorities. The movement is gaining momentum, with tens of thousands of people participating in rallies and blockades.
President Vucic has dismissed the protests as a foreign-led conspiracy and has attempted to rally his supporters to counter the growing dissent. The government's tight control over institutions and media has been a point of contention for the protesters, who believe that state corruption played a role in the canopy collapse.
Despite government efforts to discredit the protests, the student-led movement shows no signs of slowing down. A group of students has even embarked on a run from Kragujevac to Belgrade to mobilize support for a rally on Feb. 15, coinciding with Serbia's national statehood holiday.
The protests in Serbia reflect a broader dissatisfaction with the government and a desire for greater accountability and transparency. The canopy collapse tragedy has become a symbol of the fight for democracy and justice in the country.
