Yesterday, Serbia awoke to eerily empty streets. Cinemas, bookstores, and countless small businesses closed for the day. What was left of the free media refused to cover anything else. 60+ colleges and countless schools remain closed until further notice, with major traffic disruptions planned in the upcoming days.
The catalyst for this collective pause? Months of escalating tension following the November collapse of the Novi Sad Train Station roof that killed 15 people. During subsequent protests, students were beaten, detained, and even run over by a car. Yesterday, the nation chose solidarity, with many taking a stand in support of their youth.
Major pillars of Serbia’s nightlife including Klub 20/44, Drugstore, Karmakoma, and Club Tunnel shut their doors in solidarity. The owner of the nightclub Minival, Đorđe Stajkić, stated that there were only two possible paths: the right one and the wrong one. Those who stayed open yesterday would carry that dishonour, while venues dedicated to the true spirit of clubbing won’t work that day. He went on to state that a single night off would have practically no impact on their finances, as well as hinting at organising a larger scale party with DJs across the city to raise funds for the students.
Even Exit Festival, initially criticized for their perceived silence, has now responded to the criticism. The festival took to Instagram to show support for the protests, and founder and CEO Dušan Kovačević shared with Resident Advisor: “Exit began 25 years ago as a student movement for peace and freedom in Serbia and the Balkans. Today, we stand strong with the students in Serbia as they fight for a brighter future for our country.”
This act of unity was part of broader, country-wide calls for general strike, with demonstrators implementing a 24-hour blockade of a key traffic intersection in Belgrade. The protests continue to grow as citizens stand against government corruption and demand justice. That’s why yesterday, everything had to stop.
