After Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Niš, Belgrade and Novi Pazar, students gathered around the "Students in Blockade" initiative organized a protest in Loznica called "March on the Drina".
At the first protest since students, who have been blocking colleges since mid-November 2024, called for early elections in Serbia, politics and ecology intertwined throughout the day.
After Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Niš, Belgrade and Novi Pazar, a large protest was held in Loznica, and the students announced the next gathering in Čačak.
Apart from the student demands and the political crisis, at the protest in Loznica there was a lot of talk about ecology and the Jadar project.
This was another all-day protest, minutes of silence were held for the victims of the demolition of the canopy in Novi Sad, as well as for the victims of fascism.
Actors, students and professors gave speeches at the protest, and the blockade choir performed.
20.43
Marijana Petković: I believe that students and young people will defend Mačva and Jadar
Marijana Petković from Ne damo Jadar says that she believes that the students will defend Mačva and Jadar, because they grew up fighting and all polls indicate that they are against mining.
"Students at the faculties, each from their own field, analyzed the proposal about the mine. We will see what future scientists and academic citizens found in that study, which is full of holes. So they took part there, too, and they know what a mine near populated areas means. Just saying only 1.100 tons of sulfuric acid per day, nothing more needs to be said to a smart person," she said, reports Nova.
19.32
After silence and chorus, noise
After 16 minutes of silence and the performance of the blockade choir, the "biggest noise" takes place in Loznica and the entire center erupts with vuvuzelas and whistles, reports N1.
18.36
Blockade choir
The protest in Loznica continued with the performance of the Loznica Blockade Choir under the baton of professor Dragan Đedović.
They started the performance with a performance of the national anthem of Serbia "God's Justice".
As the "Vremena" reporter reports, there are more and more people on the streets of this city.
16 chairs with 16 white roses were also placed for those who died in the fall of the canopy.
18.06
Runners from Tekeriš have arrived.
The runners who set off from Tekerish for the protest arrived in Loznica.
They were greeted with applause, and they also received medals.
18.00
Mail for the victims of the fall of the canopy
At the protest in Loznica, a 16-minute tribute was held for the victims of the fall of the canopy of the railway station in Novi Sad.
17.00
Speeches by professors and students
Prof. Dr. Imre Krizmanić said that he is here as a parent and a concerned citizen of beautiful Serbia.
"I am also addressing you as a part of that Serbia, which, standing unequivocally in front of and with its students, has been waiting for justice for six months. I am here as a part of that Serbia which is standing with and in front of its worst work, in front of the youth and the future," he said.
He apologized to the students that the older generations had led them to a point of hopelessness.
"I have come to share with you the sadness of the tragedy in which 16 human beings were sacrificed because of the insatiable greed of a few immoral scoundrels," he said.
Prof. Dr. Ljiljana Tomović thanked the students who stopped their lives, their studies and learning a few months ago, realizing that they can no longer live in a country that does not respect truth, justice, freedom, science and nature.
"In this place, you cannot help but talk about the coexistence of nature and man. The struggle of the people of Jadr has been going on for too long. They know very well what it means to not have freedom, nor justice, nor the right to one's grandfather. And I thank them - because here they are defending something that none of us can lose, the right to a healthy life," she said.
Nikola Marchetić, a student of the Faculty of Music Arts, recognizable by his singing voice, greeted the crowd with the words "God help, free Loznica".
"Today, when we gathered here on the day of victory over fascism, we should all ask one question - did we defeat it? Then we did, but it reappeared in disguise and through its emissaries, from here, the dahi of the 21st century is again robbing, occupying and ravaging this beautiful Serbia of ours," he said.
16.31
A minute of silence for the victims of fascism
Those gathered in Loznica paid their respects to the victims of fascism with a minute of silence.
The following are speeches by students and professors.
The number of people gathered is higher compared to the previous hours, reports the reporter of "Vremena".
16.20
The bikers have arrived.
Bikers also arrived at the protest, the "Vremena" reporter reported.
They passed through the streets in a column for a few minutes.
16.05
AFP about the rally in Loznica
With today's protest in Loznica, students in Serbia are continuing to put pressure on the government of President Aleksandar Vučić, Agence France-Presse estimated.
The gathering in Loznica is the first large-scale student protest since the blocking students, the leaders of the anti-corruption movement, changed their tactics and demanded the calling of early elections.
AFP reports that during the night many arrived in Loznica on foot from all over Serbia, and that the locals welcomed them with Serbian flags and fireworks.
The protest is also interpreted as support for the locals in the west of Serbia in their fight against the controversial lithium mining project of the Anglo-Australian company Rio Tinto, the agency adds.
15.40
Pause at the protest
There is a break in the program of the all-day protest held in Loznica.
As the "Vremena" reporter reports, the promenade is full, and people are also walking on the other surrounding streets.
Patriotic songs are heard, such as the track "Ovo je Srbija".
Cafes are also full, and on the street is the famous banner of students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
13.24
Tihomir Stanić speaks to those gathered at the protest
In his speech, actor Tihomir Stanić recited the text of our Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić from the novel Na Drina Ćuprija.
"The last time I spoke like this was in Gornji Nedeljice at the protest against lithium and I will be there tomorrow," he said.
Let's remind you, he recently played our prestigious writer in the series of the same name.
13.03
Military veterans also protest
The gathering was joined by wartime military veterans who stood in the car while honoring the fallen.
12.45
Former basketball player Vladimir Štimac at the protest
According to the reporter of "Vremena", former basketball player Vladimir Štimac was also present at the protest in Loznica.
12.20
Student speech: We are marching against the system that forces us to leave
Student Jelena Matić addressed the crowd.
"Today, our Drina is the truth, our struggle, justice. Our goal, a dignified life, in the land of knowledge, not fear. We students no longer agree to remain silent. We also do not agree to be insulted by injustice, to ignore our voices, to trample on the education, future and dignity of all of us, and that is why we are marching. We are marching against the system that forces us to leave. Against the government that does not listen. Against the injustice that creeps into our schools every day, faculties, hospitals, and homes. But today we are marching for free education, for a society that breathes freely. For Serbia where young people do not leave but stay to build, create and love," she stated in her speech.
11:53
The delivery of mail to the victims has begun
As every day, students and citizens at 11.52:XNUMX pay their respects to the victims of the fall of the canopy in Novi Sad.
11.40
There is silence in Loznica, where the protest is being held today.
The best atmosphere in School Park
As reported by the "Vremena" reporter, the meeting officially started at 11, and so far the best atmosphere and the largest number of people gathered in the School Park. Oxen and pigs are being roasted, and a barbecue is being prepared.
One interesting machine attracts attention. Smoke is coming out of it, but you can't see what's simmering. When asked what kind of device it is, a woman in a "We don't give Jadar" t-shirt answers with a smile:
"We're cooking beans. It's a military machine."
She is soon interrupted by a lady who is also carrying some food. Everything is running fast.
The gentlemen who are roasting the oxen, when jokingly asked if there will be enough food, say "There should be". The smells spread through the park, and those who are not hungry could have a bite to eat.
They are both old and young, from pensioners to high school students. The war veterans of Serbia also came to provide support to the gathering in an organized manner.
That there will be provocateurs is also evidenced by a man on a bicycle who, passing through the park, shouted: "Fraudsters, welcome."
The number of people is also increasing in other locations in the city. That they came to the rally and support the students is shown by badges, from those bought a long time ago, to those that can still be obtained at every step with the most different inscriptions. There are also inevitable whistles, and the song "We will sing what our heart knows" by Amira Medunjanin comes from a nearby bar.
However, the main location and the stage by the bus station are still pretty empty. Speakers are being tested.
The city is patrolled by the police, there are fire brigades just in case, as well as ambulances. The seriousness of the meeting is clear.
10.45
Activists prepare food in the School Park
The "Ne damo Jadar" association supported the student protest organized in Loznica and its activists prepared food in the School Park.
Zlatko Kokanović from this Association says that they are moral and physical support for the students who are organizing today's twelve-hour protest.
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"Our part is to organize food and to host all the people who come and to show that we are good hosts. They are our dear guests. For the first time at such protests, a bull is roasted on a spit, a big pig is roasted, we have lambs, piglets, stew, military beans, fish soup, pies and cookies," says Kokanović.
He also reminds that the students have expressed their desire to walk to Gornji Nedeljice tomorrow at 11 a.m.
"All student plenums voted and declared publicly and clearly that they are against lithium mining in Serbia and also participated in writing a letter to the European Commission not to include this project as a strategic project," he notes.
8.00
Protest program
The gathering, which will last from 11 a.m. to 23 p.m., is part of months-long actions by which students and citizens express dissatisfaction with the general state of society and opposition to the opening of lithium mines in western Serbia.
The protest program is spread over several locations in the city center, with a main stage, information points and stands with food and refreshments.
11.52:XNUMX a.m. - Delivery of mail to victims in Novi Sad;
13.00 – Actors' monologues; 16.30 - Delivery of mail to the victims of fascism (minute of silence);
16.31 – Speeches;
17.44:XNUMX a.m. - Delivery of mail to victims in Novi Sad;
18.00 – Welcome of runners from Tekeriš;
18.30 – Blockade Choir;
19.30 – Noise.
The students announced that after the protest in Loznica, they will also go for a walk to Gornji Nedeljice.
From other cities, they set off on a multi-day hike to Loznica.
The first group of students and high school students who walked from Obrenovac, Mladenovac, Valjevo and Šabac arrived in Loznica last night.
Belgrade students and high school students joined their colleagues in Bogatić yesterday who went to Lozunica from Novi Sad.
Students and high school students were welcomed by many residents of Loznica, who will be their hosts.
Many of them arrive in Loznica by bicycle.
Last night, a large number of Loznica residents welcomed the participants of today's protest, who arrived in several groups from several directions across Serbia, with fireworks and torches.
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