Freedom March Held in Novi Sad

Novi Sad (BETAPHOTO/DRAGAN GOJIC)

A Freedom March took place in Novi Sad on Oct. 18, where demonstrators blocked successive intersections in the city and held performances on various subjects at each. The protest was organized by civic assemblies.

The demonstrators loudly cheered for teacher Marija Vasic and activist Lado Jovovic, released from house arrest a few days ago, with the message, "Freedom is defended in Novi Sad." Vasic held an oversize copy of the Serbian Constitution.

At the second intersection on their route, people mimed voting -- casting ballots into a ballot box, calling attention to irregularities and vote buying. The anthem of the Milan Petrovic school in Novi Sad for the elementary and secondary education of developmentally disabled children was played at the third intersection, where the blockade was dedicated to their inclusion into society.

The fourth intersection saw a performance titled, Turn on the Lights, Novi Sad, dedicated to the defense of media freedoms. The song Pada Vlada (The Government Is Falling) was played as people collected donations and messages of support for political prisoners. A performance titled, Novi Sad Casts Light on the Media Blackout in Serbia, was delivered at the fifth intersection. At the sixth intersection, in front of the seat of the police and Security and Information Agency, lawyers took over torches and the Constitution from the people. At the last intersection, at the Novi Sad railway station, the protesters paid their respects to the victims of the "mafia regime" with a 16-minute silent vigil.