Red Handprints

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the Serbian capital Belgrade this week to demand the resignation of the government, one of the country’s largest anti-government demonstrations in recent years, the Associated Press reported.

Sunday’s protests, led by university students and farmers, also took place in other cities, including Nis and Kragujevac.

The demonstrations are part of a growing movement demanding accountability and transparency over the Nov. 1 collapse of a canopy at a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad that killed 15 people.

Protesters blame the tragedy on corruption and poorly executed renovations overseen by Chinese state companies under controversial government contracts, with many describing the incident as emblematic of broader governance issues.

In Belgrade, demonstrators accused officials of having “blood on your hands” and carried banners featuring a red handprint – now a symbol of the movement, the Guardian noted.

They are demanding that President Aleksandar Vučić and others involved face justice and that a transitional government be formed to ensure free and fair elections.

Fueling discontent is the government’s handling of the incident. Initially, authorities arrested 13 people, including a government minister, over their involvement in the accident.

However, that minister was later released, prompting many protesters to remain skeptical about the integrity of the investigation.

Despite growing unrest, Vučić has rejected the calls for a transitional government and accused opposition groups of exploiting students. The government has also accused foreign powers of funding the protests while attempting to placate demonstrators with affordable housing loans for young people.

Even so, the protests have gained momentum, with high school students joining university-led blockades and teachers going on strike in solidarity. Occasional violence has broken out when pro-government supporters have tried to disrupt the marches.