Thousands of university students, high school seniors, and their supporters are currently marching towards the Serbian capital to participate in the demonstration scheduled for March 15.
Groups of young demonstrators, ranging from a few dozen to several hundred individuals, have embarked on marches from various towns and cities across the country, following a pattern observed in previous months. Similar large-scale protests have taken place in Novi Sad in the north, Belgrade, Kragujevac in central Serbia, and Niš in the south, with participants travelling on foot or by bicycle for days to reach these urban centres and voice their demands.
The demonstrations were initially organized by university students advocating for accountability following the tragic collapse of a concrete awning at Novi Sad Railway Station on November 1, which resulted in 15 fatalities. Protests in Novi Sad were marked by episodes of violence and arrests before students escalated their actions by occupying university premises and suspending classes. They also introduced the symbolic “15 Minutes of Silence” at 11:52 AM, the exact time of the collapse, standing in silence initially for 14 minutes in memory of the victims. The duration was later extended to 15 minutes after the passing of one of the three survivors.
The student-led marches have yielded multiple significant outcomes. They have fostered a sense of national unity, helped counter the climate of fear reportedly present in recent years, and raised awareness in rural areas where media coverage is predominantly government-controlled. Additionally, the marches have circumvented reported efforts to hinder mass mobilization towards Belgrade, as claims on social media suggest that intercity bus and train services have been disrupted.
Residents along the marchers’ routes have welcomed them with gestures of solidarity, offering food and beverages. In some regions, local clergy have extended blessings to the participants, reportedly in defiance of senior figures within the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), which has largely aligned itself with the national authorities.
Moreover, several of the protest columns are being accompanied by farmers on tractors, reflecting the agricultural community’s early endorsement of the movement and its broader objectives.
