Seven Months of Blockade, and Now What?
Did you know that students of the Physical Faculty in Belgrade held a blockade starting December 3rd last year? Yes, you read that right – seven whole months! They kept the faculty under siege, fighting for their demands, and on July 12th, they finally decided to end the blockade. How? By a secret vote held on December 6th, where 88 students voted to end it, 13 against, and 8 abstained.
Why did the blockade last so long?
The students were fighting for better conditions and to have their voices heard. The blockade was their way to show dissatisfaction. Despite the long duration, they had support – students from the Electrical Engineering Faculty and those from Užice stood by them, and mobile blockades spread to Novi Sad as well.
How did the citizens survive the blockade?
Imagine Belgrade with blocked streets! Transport was chaotic, taxi drivers took advantage, and fares tripled due to detours. It wasn’t easy, but the students were stubborn.
What happened in the end?
At an informative vote on July 12th, 52 students expressed their opinion – 25 for continuing the blockade, 27 against. The plenary on July 14th confirmed the decision to end the blockade. The students announced on their Instagram profile fizika_u_blokadi that they are ending the blockade, but the fight for rights continues.
What can we learn from this story?
That students have the power to fight and should not be underestimated. Seven months of blockade is no small feat, and the support from other faculties and cities shows solidarity. But was the blockade the best way? Did the citizens suffer too much?
If you have an opinion, a joke, or a conspiracy theory about this blockade, feel free to drop a comment. Maybe it’s time we all ask ourselves – how far is a student willing to go for their ideals? Or is this just the beginning of a new era of student protests?
Either way, Belgrade has seen what persistence means, and the students have shown that a voice can be heard – even if it means blocking streets for seven months!
