This week, we speak with Ilik and Koko, two students from Serbia, and another anarchist comrade who participated in student and other movements earlier in this century to speak about the anti-corruption protest that have rocked the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) government of president Vučić’ since the deadly collapse of a recently opened concrete train platform canopy in Novi Sad on November 1st 2024, so far killing 16 people. Starting with student demands for transparency and accountability from the government that were answered with violence and subterfuge, the protests have grown and drawn from wider and wider portions of the public into millions taking the streets, creating autonomous assemblies and plenums rejecting the political parties. The guests speak about the growth, the reactions against it, and the possibilites they see in what has the seeds that could bring it from social movement to social revolution.
If you’re listening to the radio edition, you’re missing about 1/3 of the interview. You can find the rest (plus Sean Swain) at our website.
Some other reading sources (thanks Rey!)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024%E2%80%93present_Serbian_anti-corruption_protests
- https://www.masina.rs/eng/
- https://www.rosalux.de/en/news/id/53121/serbian-students-are-reimagining-what-society-could-be
- https://biltenstanar.rs/en/analysis/student-protests-and-changes-without-politics/
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