Around 200 citizens are gathered on the Old Sava Bridge, following the blockade of Brankov Bridge, and a large number of police with batons are present, a Danas reporter reports.
A group of citizens remained on Brankov Bridge and have no intention of leaving. One of the organizers called on a group of citizens to cross to the Novi Beograd side to symbolically set up a tent or two.
One girl asked: “Well, what do we do now?”, while a protest participant told the police that their children could have been under the canopy in Novi Sad and assessed that the police would be remembered as the Gestapo.
Earlier, several riot vans headed towards the Old Sava Bridge, reports a Danas reporter.
In the vicinity of the Old Sava Bridge, there are about ten police vehicles, our reporter states, adding that there are dozens of police officers in riot gear on the steps of the bridge.
Dejan Atanacković called on citizens to a peaceful and dignified protest and urged the gathered not to succumb to any provocations.
Miketić announced that from tonight, activists will set up a camp on the Novi Beograd side as well, as well as 24-hour patrols. On the bridge from the side of old Belgrade, about 200 citizens have gathered.
According to Đorđe Miketić, the numberless uniforms worn by the police are against the law.
“They do this so they can arrest in the dark whenever and whomever they want,” he said.
As reported by a Danas reporter, the police are carrying batons and citizens are shouting “Who are you scared of?”, “Who are you afraid of?”
The gathered citizens are calling on the residents of Belgrade on Water to join the protest.
“What are you looking at, come out, come out,” they shout.
Dejan Atanacković reads Šapić’s statement: “The mayor told the police to prevent the continuous harassment of citizens,” to which the gathered citizens shout “Arrest Šapić”. Some citizens insult the police. Insults were also directed at the mayor and the police: “Return the gang to where he belongs.”
Actor Tihomir Stanić is in the front rows in front of the police.
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Activist of the “Bridge Remains” initiative, Đorđe Miketić, called on citizens this morning to gather in large numbers at noon on Brankov Bridge in Belgrade and block it.
“At 11:52 on Friday, everything should stop,” said Miketić and called on RTS to stop the program at 11:52. He also called on students to stop their faculties, exercises, and lectures at that time.
Then, as he said, they will have to stop the program for 15 minutes and list the names of the victims.
The gathered are chanting against Vladimir Đukanović for his statement that he regrets that the Nazis did not destroy the Old Sava Bridge.
“They sent additional machines to the Old Sava Bridge from the Novi Beograd side. This half-hour blockade was successful, let’s go defend the Old Sava Bridge so they don’t pluck it any more,” said Miketić and called on those gathered to come to RTS on Friday, and now he called on the Old Sava Bridge to stop the machines.
They are also chanting against the arrest of Savo Manojlović.
The president of the DS, Zoran Lutovac, is also present at the blockade:
“We gathered regardless of our ideological differences to defend the public interest, the government only thinks about its own lucrative interests. We will fight for our rights, we must build a democratic Serbia in order to have a just society. Call all your friends and neighbors to join the fight,” said Lutovac.
Citizens greeted the Informer journalists who arrived at the scene with whistles.
“They lie and don’t do their job,” the citizens say. Miketić said that this action is necessary because the authorities started the completely illegal removal of rails on the Old Sava Bridge early this morning around 4 am.
He added that workers, with the help of the police, entered the Old Sava Bridge early this morning and began removing the rails.
Miketić emphasized that the authorities took advantage of the fact that public attention was focused on Novi Sad where citizens and opposition politicians are blocking the entrance to the court and prosecutor’s office building and have been pushing with a police cordon since this morning.
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Source: Danas, Photo: Željko Bošnjaković/Danas.rs