“You won’t run us over”: Protests over hit-and-run of student

On November 1, 2024, a concrete awning at the recently renovated Novi Sad train station collapsed, claiming 15 lives and seriously injuring two people. Since then, students and members of the public have been blocking traffic daily for 15 minutes at 11:52 am - the time of the awning collapse - to commemorate the victims and demand accountability.

Following the Thursday hit-and-run incident, University of Belgrade students gathered in large numbers outside the Law School before marching to the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office for a protest rally, joined by members of the public.

The students carried signs and chanted: “We are not scared, we are angry,” “Hands off students,” “You won't run us over,” “The system has fallen ill,” and “Resignation then jail.”

Protests in support of the injured student spread to her hometown Kraljevo, as well as to Kragujevac, Nis, Novi Sad, Zrenjanin and other cities across the country.

The Belgrade University Law School harshly condemned the brutal attack on its student. “We demand that the perpetrator be punished to the fullest extent of the law and that all forms of violence stop,” said a press release posted on the school’s website.

N1 has learned that all Belgrade theatres as well as some theaters in other Serbian cities have decided to cancel all performances on Thursday in protest over the incident in which the law school student was injured.

The University of Belgrade issued a strong statement condemning the attack that severely injured one of its students.

The statement noted that this tragic incident validates Wednesday's warnings from the expanded meeting of the Belgrade University Rector's board about the need for increased safety at student protests and blockades.

“We insist on the implementation of measures that will protect our students and the entire academic community. We demand swift and consistent enforcement of the law by the relevant state authorities in all cases of attacks on students,” the statement concluded.