At DSCENE Magazine, we stand in solidarity with the students and citizens of Serbia who are demanding justice and accountability. Today, we are pausing our work and joining our colleagues and friends in Serbia in the general strike. What is happening in the country is too important to ignore. This collective action reflects our commitment to supporting those who strive for a more transparent and just society.
The protests began in November 2024 after a tragic event that left the country in shock. In Novi Sad, the newly renovated canopy of the main railway station collapsed, killing 15 people and injuring several others. The station had recently undergone reconstruction, part of a broader modernization project, but when the structure failed, questions arose about how something so devastating could happen so soon after the renovation. It didn’t take long before people started looking for answers. What they found only deepened their anger. Allegations of corruption, rushed construction, and a lack of proper oversight fueled public outrage. This was something that could have been prevented.
Grief turned into frustration, and frustration turned into action. The first to respond were students, who organized silent vigils for the lives lost. These moments of mourning quickly became something more. The student protests in Serbia grew in size and scope, with students leading the charge in demanding accountability. They occupied university buildings, refusing to leave until their demands were met. Faculty members and staff joined them, and one by one, universities across Serbia stopped working. Since November, academic institutions have remained closed, a striking symbol of resistance. The students made it clear that education cannot continue as usual when those in charge refuse to take responsibility.
Every day, in cities, towns, and villages across the country, thousands gather in protest. What makes this movement so powerful is its consistency. It is not just a reaction to a single event, but an ongoing, organized effort that has been growing for months. These are not sporadic demonstrations, nor are they confined to major urban centers. Small villages, places that are rarely mentioned in national conversations, have also joined in. The country is speaking in one voice, and that voice is refusing to be ignored. The movement has also spread beyond Serbia’s borders, with the Serbian diaspora organizing protests in cities across the world. From Europe to North America, gatherings are taking place as communities abroad stand in solidarity, ensuring that the fight for justice reaches a global audience.
One of the most moving aspects of these protests is the daily moment of silence. Every day at 11:52 AM, the exact time of the canopy collapse, people stand still for 15 minutes, one minute for each life lost. Traffic stops. Conversations pause. The noise of everyday life is replaced by collective stillness. This act of remembrance has become a defining feature of the movement. It is about honoring the victims and making sure their deaths are not forgotten, that their names do not fade into history as another statistic. Silence, in these moments, is louder than any chant, more powerful than any speech.
The students’ commitment to justice has led them to undertake remarkable acts of protest. In February 2025, groups of students embarked on long-distance marches from Belgrade to Novi Sad, Kragujevac and Niš, covering distances of approximately 55 miles (90 kilometers), 75 miles (120 kilometers), 150 miles (240 kilometers), and respectively. These marches were were powerful symbols of endurance and dedication to their cause. Along their routes, residents organized heartfelt welcomes, offering food, shelter, and unwavering support. The sight of villagers lining the roads, cheering and providing sustenance, brought forth deep emotions and tears, highlighting the unity and resolve of the Serbian people.
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Despite the scale and persistence of the protests, those in charge have not answered the demands. While some officials have stepped down, real accountability remains out of reach. There has been no meaningful action taken to investigate or prevent future tragedies. The students, along with the thousands who continue to march, are refusing to let this be swept aside. They are not willing to let this moment pass without real consequences.
The significance of this movement extends far beyond Serbia. It is part of a broader wave of youth-led activism that is challenging institutions and demanding accountability. In many places, young people are being told that their voices do not matter, that decisions will be made for them, not with them. The students in Serbia are proving otherwise. They are showing that refusing to be silent, refusing to accept injustice, refusing to look the other way can create momentum that cannot be ignored.
This is not just about one country. It is about the right of people everywhere to expect that when disasters happen, when lives are lost due to failures that could have been prevented, those responsible are held accountable. It is about the right to demand better from those in charge, about the expectation that leadership should come with responsibility. The students leading these protests are not just fighting for answers about what happened in Novi Sad. They are fighting for the idea that lives should not be treated as expendable, that tragedies should not be normalized, and that justice should not be something people have to beg for.
At DSCENE, we recognize the importance of standing with those who are using their voices to demand better. Today, we pause our work in solidarity and acknowledgment that what is happening in Serbia is part of a much larger story. When thousands of people stand in silence for 15 minutes, they are doing more than remembering the lives that were lost. They are proving that silence can be an act of defiance, that refusing to move on without answers is a statement in itself. The protests continue, the students remain in the universities they have taken over, and the message they are sending is clear. They will not leave. They will not be ignored. And the world should be paying attention.
