„If we don’t stand together, who will? If we don’t support the youth, students, and teachers, who will?“ said Stefan Marković, a student at the University of Pristina, in a statement for N1. „Students from North Mitrovica have also risen, and that gives us great hope. We are strongest when we are united.“
Tomorrow, Kragujevac—known as the heart of Šumadija—will become the gathering place for students from across Serbia. Symbolically, on Sretenje, Serbia’s Statehood Day, they will hold an all-day protest in the city center.
The event will conclude with a 15-minute moment of silence in honor of the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. The protest, named „Let’s Meet on Sretenje,“ carries a powerful message.
Students from Belgrade, Novi Sad, Novi Pazar, Čačak, Niš, Užice, and Kraljevo are already on their way to Kragujevac—some began walking three days ago, while others joined later. Cyclists and marathon runners are also making their way to the gathering.
„This is not just our fight,“ said Kragujevac students earlier this week in their invitation.
„It’s a fight for everyone who has ever waited for justice and never received it. In the name of the 15 victims who lost their lives on November 1. In the name of all those who have learned that silence is not the solution.“
Students are marching toward the birthplace of Serbia’s first constitution, carrying the constitution itself as a symbol of their cause. They want only one thing—a free Serbia that respects its laws and constitution.
North Mitrovica Students Join the Protest
Students from the University of Pristina, based in North Mitrovica, will also travel to Kragujevac to show their support. Although they couldn’t participate in the march because of exam season, they will be part of the gathering thanks to the local transport company, Džo Travel, which generously provided free transportation.
„There’s a lot of interest among students,“ Stefan Marković told N1.
„Džo Travel will take students to Kragujevac for free and bring them back. I can’t say exactly how many of us will go, but I will definitely be there. As a student at the University of Pristina, I’ll answer the call and join the gathering—to meet on Sretenje.“
For Marković, Sretenje is much more than a historical date or a national holiday.
„Sretenje isn’t just something we celebrate on paper. It’s the day we stood up and said—no more. Why celebrate it quietly on paper? We should stand up and speak out, especially in moments like this,“ he said.
„This Is Our Country“
Marković stressed that students from North Mitrovica must be in Kragujevac tomorrow.
„We’re not gathering in Kragujevac because we have nowhere else to go. We’re going there because we need to be there. If we don’t support each other, who will? We are strongest when we are together.“
He acknowledged that fear still lingers among some students in North Mitrovica due to pressure from professors who oppose the protest.
„Many students in North Mitrovica are afraid because some professors are against the protest and don’t support this kind of action. But I think a large number of students have decided they won’t put up with blackmail anymore. I would encourage others to wake up. This is our country, even if some believe otherwise,“ Marković emphasized.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
