UPDATE OF 22TH DECEMBER

This letter is an urgent call to action!

Currently, in Serbia, students have full control over 62 out of 80 faculties. This is the largest student protest in our region since 1968. It was triggered by a series of tragic events caused by decades of repression, corruption, and violence perpetuated by the ruling regime. The opposition has so far proven itself incompetent with its methods, which is why we, the students, have taken matters into our own hands. The final motive to take action was the death of 15 people who died when the canopy of the newly constructed train station collapsed, and so, every Friday at 11:52 we stood outside on the streets blocking traffic for 15 minutes as a commemoration to the victims.  We have suspended classes, dissolved all representative student bodies, self-organized plenums, voted on demands, formed work groups, and begun to apply pressure. We have moved into faculty buildings and adapted them for daily life. We have set up kitchens, dormitories, pharmacies, workshops, cinemas, and classrooms for self-education. In just three weeks, almost all university buildings in Serbia have become hubs for round-the-clock political self-organization. We have the full support of our fellow citizens, we survive on their donations, and every day, other vulnerable groups in society are joining our fight.

Faculty blockades are the most radical form of student self-organization. A blockade involves the suspension of classes, exam obligations and operates independently of the support of professors and administration. You have the right to self-organize in this way, and thanks to the autonomy of the university, you are also protected from direct police intervention. The faculty remains blocked until your demands are met. The suspension of a faculty's operations itself serves as a form of pressure on state institutions. What a strike is for workers, a blockade is for students. Historically, faculty blockades have proven successful in the fight for more accessible education, but today, we must use them to address broader societal problems.

We organize blockades through work groups. Work groups are open to everyone who wants to participate and focus on strategy, public actions, media, security, and activities within the blocked faculty. Workgroups present their ideas and proposals to the plenum. The plenum is an open forum for all students of the faculty. Through plenary sessions, direct democracy is put in practice. Everyone has an equal voice and the right to decide on matters concerning the direction of the protest.

The world is on the brink of collapse, representative democracy is failing, and our future is at risk. This is the only way to take control and change the course of the world. There are countless reasons for a blockade, and you know best what yours is.

Translate and share this letter! Self-organize and start practicing direct democracy now! Students of the world, join the blockades!

Main Instagram profile that organizes & informs everything about the blockages in Serbia:

https://www.instagram.com/studenti_u_blokadi?igsh=MWYyNWg1d2MwdGhrdQ==

OUR MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT

UPDATE OF 22TH DECEMBER

The largest protest in Serbia's history happened in Belgrade, Slavija. The crowd filled the Slavija alone and went towards the Vračar and Old City, too (parts of Belgrade city). This video was filmed on 22/12/2024 at 04:00 PM.

Please consider this video a message of how serious this situation is, not only for Serbia but for the whole Balkan peninsula. Every Balkan country has similar issues as Serbia. Majority of European countries has the similar issues, let alone the whole world.

Click to see the video