Demonstrations in Novi Sad Held a Month After Death of 15 in Canopy Collapse, Next Protest on Dec. 3

Novi Sad, Dec.1 2024 (BETAPHOTO/Dragan Gojic)

A commemorative drive in Novi Sad one month since a roof collapse killed 15 people in the city ended around 2 p.m. on Dec. 1, with the organizers calling on citizens to gather in front of the city hall building at 11:52 a.m. on Dec. 3, when a session is due to take place to decide on Mayor Milan Djuric's possible dismissal.

The drive concluded with the painting of Freedom Square in red, while it began at an intersection in front of the railway station, the site of the deadly accident. Several thousand people participated in a march from Freedom Square, stopping 15 times to observe a minute of silence.

The marchers passed the offices of the Serbian Progressive Party on the Boulevard without incident. The organizers had asked citizens to ignore the Progressive Party activists assembled there. The offices' windows were broken on Nov. 5, at the first protest demanding accountability for the 15 deaths.

A large black banner was displayed on the fence in front of the City House, while security guarded the entrance. Earlier on, there were reports that police had again been deployed in the City House, and a video of police vans driving through the streets near the City House appeared just before the demonstration. Among the protesters were Freedom and Justice Party president Dragan Djilas and representatives of the Democratic Party, Green-Left Front, Bravo Movement and other opposition parties.