Protest of solidarity with journalists at the Presidency of Serbia, gathering also in the so-called Ćaciland
journalists and media workers gathered in Ulica Kralja Milana, na protest due to attacks on journalists during the elections held on March 29 in 10 municipalities and cities in Serbia.
The crowd blocked Kralja Milana Street, and traffic was stopped, reports the “Vremena” reporter.
Journalist “Vremena” Jovana Gligorijević also spoke at the meeting and pointed out the reasons for the gathering and the attacks that journalists face while doing their work.
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Journalists’ associations called for a rally in solidarity with colleagues who were attacked while doing their job, but also to draw attention to the increasingly difficult and dangerous position of media workers in the country.
The banners “Our protest” and “Stop the brutal attack on journalists” were developed at the rally.
Rade Đurić, the lawyer of the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia, is also at the Presidency, and he spoke about the reasons for the media associations’ protest.
“You as journalists, and I as someone who represents, want to point out and say that we report in the public interest, that citizens must know what it is about. One of the direct reasons is the terrible violence, almost 20 serious physical attacks on March 29. We want to remind you of the impunity and responsibility of the people who do this,” he told N1.
Since the beginning of the year, more than 100 attacks and physical threats against journalists have been recorded, he adds.
“We are here to tell the state not to surrender, to tell the state that it is responsible for ensuring our safety. Most masked persons are almost never brought to justice,” he said.
On the day of the local elections on March 29, 16 attacks and interference with the work of journalists were recorded in 10 local governments, the Association of Journalists of Serbia announced earlier.
However, the citizens showed no interest in protesting against the beating and bullying of journalists, that is, for the freedom of the media in Serbia.
Rally in Pioneer Park
A large number of citizens gathered in Pionirski Park in Belgrade, ahead of the protest by media associations.
The reason for the gathering in the so-called Ćaciland is not yet known.
Source: Vreme
