The students returned home. It's the holidays. On February 14, the parishioners celebrated Saint Tryphon, the glory of wine-growing and the Day of the Municipality Aleksandrovac. The next day, at the Meeting, students from Aleksandrovac invited citizens to gather under the slogan "Freedom begins where fear disappears" in the center of Aleksandrovac.
Several of them went to Kragujevac earlier in the day to greet their colleagues at the "Let's meet at Sretenje" protest, and then they returned to Aleksandrovac.
Before the meeting, the students set up the sound system. Three tables were placed in front of the wine fountain, and on them: tea, coffee, badges, whistles and several copies of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia.
At the beginning of the protest, the students reminded that the demands were still not met, and they said it was a "moral and human duty" to gather again on Saturday (February 15), in even greater numbers.
Anja Azdejković, a student at the Faculty of Biology in Belgrade, began her speech with the words: "'When a slave steps onto Serbian land, from that moment he becomes free.' Exactly 190 years ago, diplomat Dimitrije Davidović immortalized these words in Article 118 of the first Constitution of the Principality of Serbia, thus making us the most progressive and freedom-loving country of that time."
According to popular belief, Azdejković added, it is at Sretenje that winter and spring meet, and frost is replaced by light, warmth and reawakening. "We have to get out of our passivity, out of sleep, patience and indulgence."
In the end, she said: "I stand here very proud knowing that Aleksandrovac is no longer sleeping, that our city stands with dignity and shows that it is encouraged and ready for changes."
All the while, citizens applauded in support of the speakers.
Sara Simić, a student of "Sveti Trifun" High School, reminded in her speech to pressures that high school students in Zupa face and said: "Our problem is not easy. Every day we face obstacles, with pressures due to absenteeism, with the fear of losing our testimony. With the feeling that paper is valued more than knowledge. However, we do not give up!".
Professor's greeting
After the pupils and students, Professor of Sociology at "Sveti Trifun" Secondary School Milan Mitić and Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade Dr. Aleksandar Ćoćić addressed the protest.
At the beginning, Professor Mitić greeted all the brave and free people who are in Kragujevac today.
"I have a dream that very soon the daughters and sons of this country will walk freely in the streets, without fear of violence, without fear of injustice." I have a dream that all citizens, every man, every woman, every man will have equal chances in this country. I have a dream that in this country very soon the government will be replaced in regular, free and fair elections, that the main news in the media will be these wonderful young people, creative, free, and not various Koluvije, Cece and Jece. And, not the tragedy after the tragedy that arise as a result of corruption and government malfeasance. That day is approaching and those dreams are slowly coming true. And it is precisely these wonderful, young and smart people who make them come true," Mitic said.
And he added that they must not allow the youth to fight alone, and then asked: "Citizens of Župa, are you with your children today?".
He received a standing ovation, and the crowd shouted: "We are!".
Photo: Anđela RadojičićProtest in Aleksandrovac
Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade, Dr. Aleksandar Ćoćić, said that a university professor can say the following: "Until now, we have had many generations of students, but we have never had such a generation of students."
He heard in the media today that the plenums are made up of bad students, and then he said: "I can tell you that it is an absolute lie." Among those students, there are future students of the generation, they are outstanding students".
He also addressed his colleagues who work in parish schools. "I know that it is especially difficult for you, that you are under great pressure, but do not give up this fight for freedom."
He concluded the speech with a look at the banner with the inscription "Rađevice" - "We fought to keep nature here, not a quarry, and we will fight against all these plagues."
Fear changes address
Finally, psychologist Ana Mirković spoke at this gathering and said: "To tell you the truth, since these children of ours speak in public, I just need to keep quiet."
She continued: "I don't think we have anything that smart and wise to say to them." I want to thank you for teaching us lessons in solidarity, showing how you care for others, how willing you are to give yourself up for each other, and to make this country a better place to live. Thank you for teaching us empathy”.
There is no more fear, said Mirković.
And she added: "I admire you for overcoming fear." I know how hard it is to be free in a small environment. Thank you because with your feeling that fear does not exist, fear has changed its address".
Later, in an interview with "Vreme", she said that the most important message is the same as the name of this gathering: "Freedom begins where fear disappears".
"I think that the Parish has shown that this is a free territory and that people have gotten rid of fear." Here, everyone says that there have never been so many people here, but really everyone has their foreheads raised, smiling, full of hope and renewed with optimism that we will fight for justice", Mirković pointed out.
Protest walk
After the speaker's address, the students read the names of the victims of the tragedy in Novi Sad and laid a white rose for each victim, after which the residents of Župli started a protest walk to the intersection of Ulica palih borac and Jaša Petrović. It is the intersection near the building of the Municipality of Aleksandrovac.
Photo: Anđela RadojičićWhite roses for the victims of the tragedy in Novi Sad
The citizens, who live in Jaša Petrovića Street, went out into their yards and greeted the students, applauded, and on one window the children stuck a banner: "When I grow up, I will be a student."
The protest column was led by a banner with the inscription: "It's nice to stay in your bazaar."
Mirković says that he is of the opinion that we never leave the bazaar.
"Staying in the bazaar doesn't just mean living here, it means being proud to come back here every time, watching your bazaar progress and grow, and for all that we need wonderful, educated, enthusiastic people to bring some of their knowledge and energy to this city." They can be somewhere else, but contribute to the development of this municipality", said the interviewee of "Vremena".
During the walk, students and citizens greeted the police who were securing the rally. And, the crowd chanted: "Collective strike"; "There is no fear."
Constitution at the entrance of the Municipality
Upon arriving at the planned intersection, the students left several copies of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia at the front door of the Aleksandrovac Municipality building. The ambulance went through without a problem.
Photo: Milica Srejić/VremeConstitution at the entrance to the building of the Municipality of Aleksandrovac
At the protest, banners could be read: "We have nothing to gather for!" We spread out here!"; "Buy from the peasants"; "What is the budget of the Municipality of AleSKandrovac?" and others.
At the previous meeting, on January 3, according to the Archive of Public Meetings of Župljana, there were between 450 and 500 people gathered. Tonight, that number seemed to double.
Regarding the local changes, Mirković is of the opinion that the most important thing is that small places wake up, because when small places wake up, you realize how true it is that fear has changed its address.
"Previously, it was much easier to manipulate residents of small towns because they know that they can screw you up, fire you." When you get rid of fear, then the real change begins. In big cities we are anonymous, but here we literally know each other's JMBG", concluded Mirković.
End of the meeting
Towards the end of the meeting, the citizens turned on the flashes on their phones and the action was reflected in 15 minutes of silence.
At the end of the meeting, Sofija Ivanović, a student at the Faculty of Law, told "Vreme" citizens to come out and see how beautiful the energy is.
"I want to invite them to join us in the fight for our better tomorrow, for their better tomorrow." I want to invite all the parents, grandparents, all the teachers because I think they have an obligation to us to help us make this country free again", said Ivanovic.
And she concluded that the Constitution in front of the Municipality of Aleksandrovac, in addition to symbolizing the fact that the Constitution of Sretenj was adopted on this day, also symbolizes their desire that "our basic human rights be respected".
