Novi Sad, 1.11.2025
A year has passed. I can't really say nothing changed, a lot of people woke up and realized how things work. Over 25000 protests all over the country happened in this year.
I didn't travel by this train for years now. But i did spend a good amount of time exactly there, on a bench waiting for a train that was always late. Always joking that trains here are great if you don't need to be somewhere on time. Never thought i will not get there. And especially because someone decided to open the construction site to the public use and do a shitty job to profit millions.
I was in Novi Sad for the first time after the canopy collapse. Weird feeling.
I didn't want to take photos of people, it didn't feel right. Even this one was an accident. I was thinking should i include it, but it represents the feeling of the day.
Students organizing asked people for a peaceful gathering, with no political flags, no political signs, no whistles and noise.
I don't really know what to write, so i will just share some news from before and at the event. So anyone who cares can make their own conclusion.
Group of students decided to walk to Novi Sad. Some from the South started early and walked over 350km. One of the biggest groups got to Belgrade and went on a 2 day walk of almost 100km. A lot of people joined in.
Our president was not aware about what happened on 1.11. so when asked what does he expects he asked "What is in Saturday, some kind of a sport event (football game).
Trains were stopped in the middle of the day 31.10. First they didn't even bother to give the reason. After few hours they picked the one already used several times this year before any big protest in Novi Sad or Belgrade. Bombs...
And all you can do is joke about it.
At 11:52 a 16 minutes of silence started. It is weird how no one said anything, no one announced it, you could just hear the silence moving towards you from the front where people could see the clock.
Official Police report said 39000 people. I don't know...
People stranded on the highway who didn't manage to get into Novi Sad on time because of the traffic jam paying respect on the highway.
After the 16 minutes of silence the choir performed this song. I have tears in my eyes every time i play it. Maybe it is because of the situation, maybe because of the overall take on the nature, life and human existence.
The cherry tree blooms in the mountain,
Spring is preparing for its journey.
Everything is the same in my homeland,
Only I am gone.
The green vine twines,
Around the old house porch.
Everything is the same as it once was,
Only I am gone.
80% of the media here published this video as a peak attendance and called it a disaster...
