Serbian students block high school in protest against government

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00:00A school under occupation, slogans against corruption.

00:03Students from the Belgrade High School No. 5 have been blocking access to their school for two weeks.

00:10Here we keep the donations.

00:12They're given by generous people who support our fight for a just country.

00:18Because it was one of the first to support the protest,

00:20High School No. 5 is now facing an attempt by the authorities to regain control,

00:25with the appointment of an interim principal.

00:30She fired qualified teachers who were good at their profession.

00:33And now she has hired unqualified teachers who only support her politically.

00:39In front of the school, volunteers from citizens' assemblies are providing support to the students.

00:44They keep watch day and night.

00:47We are present at every protest.

00:49Whatever protest the students organize, we join in.

00:53As the first anniversary of the tragedy in Novi Sad approaches,

00:57the event that sparked the protest movement,

00:59students from Serbia's most remote university are walking all the way to Novi Sad,

01:03400 kilometers, 16 days on foot.

01:07So that we don't forget the 16 victims who died under the station roof because of this regime's corruption.

01:12The whole essence of the students' movement is the fight against corruption

01:16and against the regime that is extremely repressive.

01:19At every step along the way, the marchers are welcomed by local residents, as in this small village.

01:26Thanks to them for awakening that energy within us,

01:29for making us realize that things can be better and must be better.

01:33We expect elections to be called so that the real political situation in the country can be shown to the people.

01:44To commemorate the deadly station collapse, the students have called for a massive rally,

01:48much to the displeasure of President Aleksandr Vucic.

01:51The students are calling for early elections, but so far it has fallen on deaf ears.

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