Hundreds of demonstrators spent the night blocking one of Novi Sad’s bridges as part of ongoing protests sparked by a tragic accident at the city’s railway station. Participants assured that the energy seen across Serbia would not fade until there is a „complete change of the system.”

On Saturday, exactly three months after the tragedy, tens of thousands of people, along with a line of tractors, blocked all three bridges in Novi Sad for three hours. On one of them, the Freedom Bridge, a 24-hour blockade began at 3 PM.

A Night of Protest in a „Tent City”

Hundreds of demonstrators spent the night in a makeshift „tent city” around the bridge. „I wore several layers of clothing, yet I was still shivering and couldn’t sleep. But I don’t regret a single moment of staying here overnight, because we all know what we are fighting for,” said one participant of the all-night blockade.

Contrary to government expectations, the protests are not diminishing but rather intensifying. „I am sure that even if the students’ demands are met, this energy will not disappear overnight. We are fighting for a complete change of the system,” emphasized another demonstrator.

The night around the bridge over the Danube was spent around bonfires, playing cards, basketball, and volleyball, and engaging in discussions until dawn. Protesters included residents of Novi Sad as well as people from other cities across the country.

Protesters Clean Up After Demonstration

From the early morning hours, volunteers have been cleaning the streets after thousands protested against government corruption overnight.

„Sure, the municipal services would take care of it, but these are our protests, from start to finish,” said protesters as they swept the area around the bridge.

Around the demonstrators, who were still chilled from spending the night outdoors, people walked offering hot drinks, snacks, and baked goods. Several locations around the blockade had been set up since Saturday, providing free food and drinks as well as medical assistance.

Symbolic Acts of Protest

The organizers engaged passersby in various activities, including a „lesson in following the rules.” Students stopped groups of people in front of traffic lights, asking them to wait for the green signal. „It doesn’t matter that no cars are driving on this blocked street—let’s build the habit of following the rules,” they said, handing out sweets as a reward for crossing correctly.

Background: The Railway Station Collapse

The protests in Serbia erupted after a construction disaster at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1 of last year. The collapse of part of the station’s roof killed 15 people. Demonstrators accuse the authorities of corruption and negligence, which they claim led to the tragedy.

On Tuesday, in response to the mass protests, Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djurić resigned.

Student Demands and Government Response

The student-led protests demand full transparency of all contracts related to the station’s renovation, punishment for those responsible for attacks on demonstrators, the dismissal of charges against protesters, and a 20% increase in budget spending on higher education.

The Serbian government and President Aleksandar Vučić have assured that all demands have been or will soon be met. However, students responded that none of their demands have yet been fully addressed.