DIASPORA

“THE LIGHTS OF VEGAS FOR THE DARKNESS OF SERBIA”: Students receive support from Serbs in “The city that never sleeps”! (VIDEO)

by Serbian Times6. February 2025.6. February 2025.

“The lights of Vegas for the darkness of Serbia,” “No more gambling with our lives,” “No more gambling with our Serbia,” “Students are our jackpot,” “One people – one fight,” “Support loud and clear from Las Vegas”—these were the messages displayed at a gathering organized on Wednesday by representatives of the Serbian diaspora in Las Vegas, Nevada. With this event, Las Vegas joined the growing list of cities across the United States holding protests in support of the students.

Zorana Veljović, who has lived in Las Vegas for 20 years, told Voice of America that she attended the gathering in front of the Bellagio Hotel because she follows what is happening in Serbia every day.

“The diaspora has been running on adrenaline for months. The diaspora is not sleeping. The diaspora says: Thank you, students, for love, faith, and hope. We love you,” said Zorana.

“We love you from Vegas,” shouted Jelena Grubac and Maja Andrejić, blowing kisses.

“Youth has always been the force that changes the world, and we are endlessly grateful to our young people in Serbia for sparking this flame and igniting the entire region! Thank you, students,” Jelena Grubac told Voice of America.

Over the past month and a half, protests by the Serbian diaspora have taken place in Washington, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Nantucket, Boston, Miami, Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, and San Diego. More demonstrations are planned for certain cities as early as next weekend.

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Students, who have been blocking universities for months, are demanding criminal accountability for the deaths of 15 people at the Novi Sad Railway Station. They state that their demands have still not been met. Their demands include:

The release of full documentation on the reconstruction of the Novi Sad Railway Station,
Dropping charges against students arrested at protests,
Prosecution of individuals who assaulted students and professors from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts,
A reversal of the 20% tuition increase.

The government has stated that it has met the students’ demands, which the students deny.