BELGRADE, Serbia — Following a two-day march and a night spent outdoors, students from Belgrade University participating in anti-corruption protests in Serbia received complimentary taxi rides back home on Sunday.
A large number of taxi drivers organized to transport the students from the northern city of Novi Sad after a day-long blockade of local bridges, an action that reflects a broader movement against corruption sweeping through the Balkan country.
“This was a spontaneous initiative; about 20 or 30 of us started this,” expressed Sava Jovanovic, one of the event’s coordinators. He emphasized the collective support for the students, stating, “They are our children, our students, and we will bring them home.”
These university students have been at the forefront of the protests in Serbia, ignited after a concrete canopy collapsed at Novi Sad’s central train station on November 1, resulting in 15 fatalities and leaving two others with serious injuries.
The demonstrations have amassed significant crowds, demanding accountability and justice in the wake of the tragic incident, which many critics attribute to poor renovation practices and government corruption.
Taxi driver Nikola Bogdanovic noted the remarkable response from his fellow cabbies, with around 500 participating, some traveling from central Serbia to join this effort.
Driving in an impressive convoy, with horns honking and Serbian flags waving, these drivers made their way from Belgrade to Novi Sad, receiving warm greetings from onlookers and other motorists. The taxis displayed signs indicating they were “student taxis.”
Upon their arrival in Novi Sad, the taxi drivers were met with cheers and passed under a large banner that proclaimed: “Students will free the world.”
Belgrade taxi driver Radoje Tosovic shared, “I have grandchildren; my motivation is to fight for their better future.” He reinforced the notion that students represent the best of society, urging everyone to support them.
The students’ call for upholding the rule of law and their compassionate acknowledgment of the victims resonated deeply in a nation weary from years of ongoing crisis.
As the students moved from one blockade to another, or trekked through the countryside from Belgrade to Novi Sad, many citizens came forward to provide food and drinks, with some moved to tears.
Dejan Jovic, a taxi driver from Belgrade, expressed his personal connection, stating, “Our kids are in the streets, and my daughter is among them.”
“They walked for 80 kilometers (50 miles), and we’re here to bring them home,” said Jovic. “It feels like something beautiful has sparked again, something we haven’t witnessed in a long time.”
