The student-led “Let’s Meet at Sretenje” rally in Kragujevac, attracting tens of thousands from across Serbia, concluded shortly after midnight, with plans for another gathering scheduled in Niš on March 1st.

At the conclusion, attendees observed a fifteen-minute silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the Novi Sad Railway Station tragedy.

The protest, lasting 15 hours in remembrance of the 15 fatalities from the canopy collapse, witnessed students walking from various cities including Novi Sad, Belgrade, Niš, Kraljevo, Novi Pazar, Užice, and Čačak.

Fifteen chairs were placed in the central street, each labeled with a name of one of the victims from Novi Sad, accompanied by a white rose, a symbol of innocence.

Throughout the day, tens of thousands joined the students in Kragujevac, causing all major streets in the city center to be blocked off for the demonstration.

A letter from the students was read aloud, declaring that “significant social changes have begun” and urged institutions to act swiftly and transparently to meet their demands.

Civil Engineering student Aleksa Nešović remarked to the Beta news agency that the atmosphere was “incredible and the organization was excellent.”

“I find the organization top-notch, with the line stretching over a kilometer and an incredible vibe,” stated Nešović.

Protesters waved banners with messages like “Pump!”, “The smile returns to the city,” “The scoundrel is furious,” “Give us sunlight,” “Chief architects of a brighter future,” “SMAK system,” and “The dawn of rebellion against the dahi.”

The 40-year-old anthem of the protest was “Pump up the Jam” by Tehnotronik, with the crowd chanting “Pumpaaaaaaj.” Students playfully renamed the village Vučić, located about 30 kilometers from Kragujevac, to “Studentić” during their march.

The students also announced plans for another major protest in Niš on March 1st.

Students from the Faculty of Political Sciences shared on Instagram that local taxi drivers were offering free rides from Kragujevac to Belgrade for protest participants.

In parallel with the Kragujevac protest, several thousand people in Belgrade gathered at Republic Square to watch a live broadcast of the demonstrations from the heart of Šumadija.

Students and citizens congregated at Republic Square in Belgrade to witness the coverage of the Kragujevac student rally, according to media reports.

Students from the Faculty of Organizational Sciences and the Faculty of Architecture facilitated the broadcast viewing, as reported by the N1 portal.

Since November, students across Serbia have been blocking faculties and rectors’ offices, demanding accountability for the 15 casualties from the Novi Sad incident, the release of activists, and legal action against those who assaulted students during memorial events.

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