December 28 is approaching, the large protest of students in blockade, which this time will take place in a completely different way — through online networking with citizens. As announced, students will have booths at more than 200 locations across Serbia, where citizens will be able to show their support with a signature and contact details, thereby sending the message that it is not only students who are calling for elections, but the people as well. In the remainder of the text, the academics explain why everyone should take to the streets on Sunday.
Everything is ready for December 28, the day when students across Serbia will, for the first time, meet citizens who have been supporting them for more than a year.
Students in blockade previously announced that December 28 will be the day when “all of Serbia proclaims victory” and explained to Nova.rs that on that day there will be no protest as in previous instances, but rather online networking with citizens at multiple booths throughout Serbia.
Thus, the academics organized themselves and planned in detail to collect citizens’ signatures in more than 50 cities across Serbia, at over 200 locations.
The citizens’ signatures themselves have no legal value, but as they say, the goal is to meet citizens who support them and who will leave their contact information and be able, at any time of day, to ask students about their activities.
Students told our portal that everything is ready and that they have been preparing this event for a long time, and they are sending a clear message to citizens as to why it is important to come to one of their booths on Sunday.
“Citizens should respond to our call and come on Sunday because this event will be a new way of cooperation and networking. They will become better acquainted with our work over the past months and will be more actively involved in the new phase of our struggle. The point is not just signing a request for calling elections, but mutual networking. This will be exerting pressure in a completely different way than before, which the authorities will not be able to ignore,” the students told our portal.
They emphasize that this is one of their more important actions.
“People, let’s take to the streets, sign the decision and leave contact information, because that is the only way to achieve victory in the elections and finally take a step toward systemic change,” they stress.
They add that the struggle that has lasted for a year is no longer just a student one.
“Much of what has been achieved would not have been possible without the participation and initiative of wonderful people across Serbia who contributed in various ways, which has also been shown on the streets. A long road lies ahead of us that we will not cross easily, and therefore additional joint engagement of all of us — students and citizens who want change — is necessary.”
What about the signatures
They explain why signatures are important.
“It is extremely important for us to show in yet another way that the demand for calling early parliamentary elections is not only a student demand, but is in the public interest. Although the signatures we collect will not be submitted to institutions, because we are aware that such initiatives in this case do not have sufficient legal force, they send a clear message — the people want elections and are ready for change. By signing, you show that you are ready to stand in the front lines together with us, that you will not wait for someone else to do something for you, but that you will continue to fight alongside students for democracy and justice.”
By leaving contact information, on a voluntary basis, citizens help students network more effectively.
“We want to establish more direct contact and clearer communication with citizens. You will have the opportunity to receive information about the student movement firsthand, but you can also expect calls for concrete engagement that will contribute to an electoral victory. Even if it may not seem so at the moment, change is inevitable, the consequences of student action are lasting, and victory is within reach; however, we must fight for it together. Citizens will have the opportunity to talk with local students, ask questions, offer criticism and advice, and in that way further contribute to the movement while also clarifying any doubts. Come and let’s talk,” they say.
The action is decentralized, because the need for change is not concentrated in university cities, but is present throughout Serbia.
They reiterate that this is not a protest and that there will be no program or speeches.
“This is a platform, an occasion for direct conversation, better mutual understanding, and preparation for everything that awaits us in the coming period — for example, training for monitoring the electoral process, which is already underway, and the like. As early as June 28, in the closing speech, we announced networking; it was said then, ‘let us spread the network across all of Serbia — a strong network of love, freedom, and support that we will preserve and build upon.’ This action is a concrete step toward that. Every individual is important, everyone’s opinion is valued, and everyone’s contribution is of great significance; citizens are not numbers to us, but equal participants of the people of whom we are also a part, which is why we want you by our side, and this is a way to draw closer,” the academics say.
New Year’s Bazaar in Belgrade
In the center of Belgrade, students are organizing a New Year’s Bazaar, specifically at Studentski trg. On that occasion, they also have a request for our fellow citizens.
“There will be workshops for children and many nice things, and what is perhaps the nicest of all is that we will be collecting sweets and toys in order to make New Year’s gift packages for all children. That is why we ask our fellow citizens to bring toys and sweets,” they say.
They will also collect donations for their further activities by selling products that characterize the student struggle.
“There will be specially designed whistles, various materials that describe everything we have been doing for a year. There will be all sorts of interesting things, so come and support us,” they say.
In Novi Sad, on that day, academics are organizing a panel discussion at 6 p.m. at the Campus.
The panel will be in two parts. The first part is related to local elections, and the second is related to the judiciary and TOK. “There will be some flyers for visitors at the booths about us, our activities, and how they can find us at any time,” they state.
Otherwise, check their website studenti.org for a detailed list of cities and locations by municipalities where student booths will be set up.
It is important to emphasize that everything is on a voluntary basis, in terms of providing contact information. Students note that everything is for the sake of easier networking, and that nothing is mandatory.
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Source: Nova, Foto: ATA images