Title: Ove noge nisu male - Almanah studentskog protesta
Photographer(s): Nenad Šeguljev, Đorđe Simović, Petar Mirosavljević
Writer(s): Stanko Lazendić, Branislava Opranović, Petar Petrović
Designer(s): Ivana Đukić
Publisher(s): Studentski kulturni centar, Novi Sad, Serbia
Year: 2016
Print run: 1500
Language(s): Serbian
Pages: 298
Size: 21 x 29,5 cm
Binding: Hardcover
Edition:
Print: Stylos d.o.o. Novi Sad, Serbia
Nation(s) and year(s) of Protest: Serbia,1997-1997
ISBN: 9788662850492
After years of hardships resulting from the opressive rule of Slobodan Milosevic and his Socialist Party, the local elections in November 1996 in Serbia were widely seen as an opportunity to rid the country of the murderous post-communist regime, which has presided over the outbreak of Yugoslav wars, severe restrictions of free speech as well as civil and political rights, violent persecution of political oponents, media blackouts and the ecnomic ruin of the country's middle class. Yet despite the landslide victory of the opposition parties in many locales, the incumbent socialist government refused to concede defeat in most major cities in Serbia. The Student Protest of 1996/1997, was part of the widespread civil unrest that followed. The protest was independent of the political rallies happening at the same time. It lasted for 110 days, was conducted in multiple cities across the country, with hundreds of thousands of young people taking to the streets in a bid to prevent the electoral fraud. To date, it remains the most massive and persistent demonstration of the willingness and desire of Serbia's youth to participate in building a democratic society. Although the opposition win in Novi Sad appeared undisputed, the students of the University of Novi Sad understood the full gravity of the situation, and the importance of mounting a powerful demonstration of solidarity with their colleagues in Belgrade and elsewhere. They organized daily protests on campus and in the main city square throughout the winter months, staging massive rallies, daily "freedom walks" and various events aimed at raising awareness of electoral fraud. Additional forms of protest included the publication of 54 consecutive editions of the newly established daily newspaper "Studentski Proglas", as well as the 90 km walk to Belgrade. The "March on Belgrade" on December 13, 1996 has been well documented by numerous international media outlets, and through a documentary "Putting Our Best Foot Forward" by Aleksandar Davic. In December 2016, the former organizers, journalists and participating non-profit organizations came together once again in order to mark the 20th anniversary of the Protest. This Almanach was created as a way to preserve the memory of the events that had unfolded during the winter of 1996/1997 in Novi Sad. It is the only printed collection of photos from public and private sources, reprints of all editions of Studentski Proglas, protest art, flyers, bulletins and various other promotional materials, as well as samples of organizational records such as donations, expenditures, marching routes, lists of speakers at rallies and names of students in various organizational bodies. It is meant to provide a reliable and detailed overview of the beginnings of the democratization of Serbia - the process that, unfortunately, continues in much the same way to this day.