Belgrade Streets on Fire with Student Fury!
Evening Belgrade has turned into a battlefield of student protests that continue to shock and divide the public. It all started around 6 PM in front of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in New Belgrade, where about a hundred citizens and students gathered, ready to loudly say “enough is enough!”
Instead of peacefully marching to Ušće as originally planned, the crowd decided to continue over the Branko’s Bridge, blocking traffic and causing total chaos. Traffic was halted, and drivers were stuck in jams for hours while students and citizens tirelessly chanted against police repression and the detention of their peers.
Police vs Students: The Clash That Won’t End
The protests escalated after students from the Faculty of Law in Belgrade called for a gathering, citing brutal police actions during the detention of students suspected of planning a violent change of the constitutional order. The police responded with rotating patrols and secured roadblocks, but this did not calm the protesters.
Groups of citizens supporting the students appeared on the streets, and blockades spread to multiple intersections in Belgrade and other Serbian cities. The climax was the blockade of the intersection between King Alexander Boulevard and Belgrade streets, as well as Branko’s Bridge, causing massive traffic jams.
Students’ Call for Resistance and System Critique
Students from the Faculty of Law in Novi Sad also joined the fight, inviting citizens to join them in front of the Novi Sad Fair, where exams are planned. They claim the faculty administration hired private security and that exams will be held in written form, which is not the usual practice. They also point to daily violations of the constitution and laws, as well as police abuse.
Parents of detained students sent an appeal to the European Union, claiming Serbia today has political prisoners and that they are treated with absolute disrespect.
Mental Health of Citizens Under Repression Threat
As protests continue, mental health experts warn that brutal forms of repression seriously undermine citizens’ basic sense of security and threaten their mental health. Increasing use of force by law enforcement adds fear and stress to everyday life.
Why Is This Happening?
It all started after the protests on June 28, when students were arrested for alleged involvement in violence and planning to change the constitutional order. Since then, students decided not to stay silent and to fight for their rights and justice, as well as for respect of laws and the constitution.
They demand early elections and justice for all detained and arrested colleagues. Their struggle has become a symbol of resistance against a repressive system that spares no effort to silence the voice of youth.
Chaos on the Streets or Voice of the People?
While some see the protests as a necessary resistance against injustice and abuse of power, others call them chaos and a disruptive factor that endangers citizens’ daily lives. Traffic blockades, jams, and clashes with police provoke divided opinions.
But one thing is clear – students and citizens protesting will not stop until their demands are met. And while Belgrade struggles with blockades and protests, all of Serbia watches and wonders: where will this end?
Conclusion
These protests are not just a fight for students’ rights but a fight for justice, respect for laws, and basic human rights in Serbia. While the government and police continue repression, students and citizens do not give up on their demands. The nation’s mental health is at stake, and Belgrade’s streets have become a battlefield between the system and young people demanding change.
Got your own take on these protests? Maybe you got stuck in traffic because of the blockades? Drop a comment and share your story. Who knows, maybe your voice will break the ice and spark a real conversation!
