Message from Mass Commemoration in Novi Sad: See You Tomorrow and Every Day Until Justice Is Served

BETAPHOTO/Sasa Djordjević

A mass commemorative rally, including a 16-minute silent vigil for the victims of the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse, took place in the city on Nov. 1, ending with students unfurling a banner down the walls of the Petrovaradin fortress reading, "See you tomorrow and every day, until justice is served."

As the banner was being unfurled, the students lit torches on the Petrovaradin fortress, BETA's reporter said. At the same time, they released 16 white paper lanterns into the sky from boats on the Danube River below. Tens of thousands of people assembled on the promenade along the Danube in Novi Sad. Earlier on, students and other citizens from Novi Sad and across Serbia stood silent during a 16-minute vigil at 11:52 a.m. to remember exactly one year since a concrete canopy at the then recently renovated main railway station collapsed causing 16 deaths and severely injuring the sole survivor.

As people gathered in Novi Sad, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and several ministers attended a ceremony in Belgrade's Church of St Sava, where several thousand Vucic's followers also came to light candles and honor the victims. After months of accusations against the student protests, claiming that they wanted to oust him and were being paid to protest, Vucic held an address to the nation on Oct. 31 in which he said he "made comments that [I regret]."

Global media outlets reported that Vucic called for dialogue, with no mention of an early election, which protesters have been demanding for months. Nov. 1 was declared a day of mourning in Serbia. Rallies organized by Serbian expatriates were held in several other countries