Student speech read out at protests across Serbia

The students are demanding early parliamentary elections at what they called a decisive turning point for Serbia and are calling for civil disobedience.

“You who are here as you have been all these months have been wondering together persistently. We have been seeking truth and justice for more than 6 months. We have launched the biggest wave of student demonstrations in Europe in the past 50 years. We have staged the biggest protests in Serbia’s history, reaching into every corner of our country, walking hundreds and riding thousands of kilometers. We have restored faith and hope to ourselves and others, a hope in a better tomorrow and faith in a just society. We have encouraged the academic community and education system to raise their heads, woken up the people to fight for their convictions.

“A lack of respect for the constitution undermines the very foundations of democratic society.

“We are demanding early parliamentary elections. This moment must be recognized as a decisive turning point for Serbia. The voice of the young people is not just a whisper but a wave which could launch changes, restore dignity and wake up hope in justice and freedom. Democracy must not remain a mere promise.

“The roots of corruption in the authorities run too deep in the state apparatus and that is why our demands have not and can not be met.

“The fact is that this system, coupled with these authorities, cannot and does not want to meet them. We have exhausted every legitimate way of seeking justice on the streets, we have addressed only those institutions that legally have jurisdication over our demands. We did not get an adequate answer but we did get the most horrendous insults, threats, abuse, lies, arrests, beatings, car assaults and tear gas.

“We will launch civil disobedience in every town and city. We will not obstruct the public, we will obstruct lies, injustice and corruption.

“This is not a student protest but a protest of reason and dignity. The protest of every person who was demeaned and still has faith. The people who are not being heard have the right to shout and the people being pushed into a corner have the right to defend themselves which is why we are calling you not to fight for us but to fight together. Till our demands are met,” the student speech said.