The "Either Them or Us" protest has ended in Novi Pazar, where several thousand people from all over Serbia came to support the State University there.
"Students" DUNP will try to achieve a dialogue with the newly elected rector at DUNP, so the decision on the ultimatum will depend on the outcome of that conversation," declared DUNP student Enes Džogović at the end of the protest.
"We all know what kind of attitude this government has towards education, but there are red lines that must not be crossed. The cradle of knowledge must not be endangered. Here has always been a testing ground for regime reprisals, here for the first time professors and students were expelled from the university. Here for the first time the administration insulted students and called them terrorists and foreign mercenaries. Here for the first time the administration forcibly invaded the university and expelled the students. Here, for the first time, the university's autonomy was violated," Enes said. Dzhogovic.
"After all, we are still here and we are still fighting and we have shown them that we care about saving this university, rather than they care about destroying it," he said.
The main program of today's protest began with the "Right to the City" forum, which is dedicated to the preservation of the city's cultural heritage.
"Today we are in a city that knows what it means to live together, and that is why it is no coincidence that the students of DUNP have become a symbol of courage, tolerance and reason," said Miloš Pavlović, the recent dean of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, one of the speakers.
Professor Pavlović said that the students "in a short time managed to give birth to what has been destroyed in this country for decades, which is verification. That's why this is a mature social act, not just a student movement."
"The state's desire to shut down a university is an indicator of which way someone wants to lead us, and is it a path, or is it a detour? That message, that it is a detour, was shown by the students of DUNP by their walking, but by walking on the right path. They traveled the length and breadth of Serbia bearing the message that Serbia can only grow on the right paths. This fight is not only a fight for the university, it is a fight for truth, justice in wisdom, for the willingness to admit mistakes, and to learn the basic words - excuse me, please, thank you," said Miloš Pavlović.
The cyclists have arrived.
The main protest program in Novi Pazar began with the "Right to the City" forum, after the cyclists arrived in the city, a little after 16:30 p.m. Thousands of people welcomed them with fireworks. The cyclists left Novi Sad two days ago to join the DUNP students who invited all of Serbia to today's protest. A reception was prepared for them at the municipality building.
Until the arrival of the cyclists, there were blockades throughout Novi Pazar.
The promenade is blocked, as is the highway, which is located a few hundred meters from DUNP.
The DUNP student, in tears, addressed the crowd in front of the University.
"He has not fulfilled anything for a year, not a single request. Our wounds still hurt when we see what is happening day by day. Well, we will not give up, we are here until all requests are fulfilled," she said and added "let's block something, shall we?".
Some students came to the protest in Novi Pazar on horseback. One person wears a new red fez, which is associated with Bosniaks, another wears a sajkača, and the third wears a keffiyeh that symbolizes the people of Palestine.
Mufti Sandzački Muhammed ef. Demirović said that the struggle of the students from Pazar showed that Muslims, Orthodox, Bosniaks and Serbs united and showed that they can cooperate together.
They are demanding resignations.
Students of the State University in Novi Pazar (DUNP) hung a banner with photos of employees and the inscription "We are looking for resignations" on the facade of the DUNP building.
The banner stated that these were the persons who, according to the students' claims, together with "thugs from Kraljevo", entered the premises of the University and violated the institution's autonomy.
Hundreds of people gathered in the city center, and banners welcoming guests from other cities were placed in several locations. There is no visible police presence on the streets and in the vicinity of the University, while the traffic police regulate the flow of vehicles on several key roads.
The main program is planned for 17:00, when students in the blockade will address the audience.
"We have been fighting against injustice, repression and pressure for more than a year. But now the critical moment has come to once again show what we can do when we are together," they said.
Na protest in Novi Pazar students from Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac and Niš, from universities all over the country, as well as cyclists started. Truck operator Milomir Jaćimović said that he will organize transportation for students from Novi Sad, the departure is scheduled for Sunday at 7:00 a.m. from the University campus, while the return is scheduled for 11:00 p.m.
DUNP students also published a map of the protest, on which the stage, food and drink stands, and sales stands were marked.
Guests have arrived.
The evening before the "Either them or us" protest, there was a crowd at the entrance to the city due to the arrival of guests from other cities, and students are waiting for passengers at the bus station and escorting them to the secured accommodation.
In the premises of the Bosniak National Council, beds were prepared for participants from different parts of Serbia, and in several locations where accommodation was organized, a greater number of police patrols were noticeable.
Big holiday discount on "Vreme" - subscriptions 25 percent cheaper until mid-January. Give it away subscription to yourself or to someone else, read what matters.