A week after the Novi Sad tragedy, for which no one has yet been arrested, the Varadin bridge in the city was blocked by a protest of many thousands. Traffic was closed until midnight.
On Friday, 1 November, the concrete canopy of Novi Sad's recently reconstructed railway station collapsed, killing 14 people and seriously injuring three others.
Citizens are demanding the resignations of Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric, as well as the removal of the confidentiality seal from the contracts for the reconstruction of the railway station.
So far, only the Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Goran Vesic, has resigned, but refused to take responsibility for the incident. At previous protests, riot police intervened by using tear gas to disperse protesters. Several people were arrested, including peaceful demonstrators.
On November 8, activists and citizens left red footprints, symbolizing bloodied hands, on the Varadin Bridge.
"Corruption reigns while people suffer," "We cry even without tear gas," "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty," and "Mom, don't worry, the government didn't kill me today" were among the messages during the blockade Friday night.
Young parents who joined the protest with their children said they would never forget the tragedy and that they wanted a better future for generations to come. | BGNES